Fisheries Investment for Sustainable Harvest

Final Report June 2009 Cooperative Agreement: 617-A-00-05-00003-00 16 May 2005-16 November 2008 Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures Auburn University, Alabama

This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and prepared by Auburn University, Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures. The authors views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government. Auburn University is an equal opportunity educational institution/employer. www.ag.auburn.edu

Catfish fingerling ponds, protected from predators. One small pond like these can produce 10,000 to 15,000 fingerlings with total value of 2 to 3 million Ush ($1,000 to $1,500) every 2 months in static water. This is only one of the production options available for catfish hatcheries.

GOU IFPRI LVHD MAAIF MAK (MUK) MEMS MOU NAADS NaFIRRI NARO NEMA NGOs NORAD PEAP

Government of Uganda International Food Policy Research Institute Low Volume High Density Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries Makerere University, Kampala Monitoring & Evaluation Management Services Memorandum of Understanding National Agricultural Advisory Services National Fisheries Resources Research Institute National Agricultural Research Organization National Environment Management Authority Non-Governmental Organizations Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation Poverty Eradication Action Plan Project Intermediary Results Plan for Modernization of Agriculture Project Monitoring Plan Productive Resource Investments for Managing the Environment Private Sector Investment (Programme under EVD) Request for Proposal Strategic Activities Fund Strengthening the Competitiveness of Enterprise Development Strategic Objective Strategic Objective Seven Short Term Technical Assistance Uganda Investment Authority Uganda Monitoring and Evaluation Management Systems United States Agency for International Development United States dollars (denoted in text by $) Uganda shillings Water Resources Management Directorate

Acronyms
APEP ARDC-Kajjansi APS AU BMP CDE CIRAD CoP DANIDA DFR EVD IEHA FAO FIRRI FISH FTI Agricultural Productivity Enhancement Program Aquaculture Research and Development Centre, Kajjansi Annual Program Statement Auburn University Best Management Practices Centre for the Development of Enterprise Centre de coopration internationale en recherche agronomique pour le dveloppement Chief of Party Danish International Development Agency Department of Fisheries Resources Agency for International Business and Cooperation (Netherlands) Initiative to End Hunger in Africa Food & Agricultural Organization Fisheries Resources Research Institute Fisheries Investment for Sustainable Harvest Fisheries Training Institute
Clarias gariepinus, (above) and Oreochromis niloticus, (below), are the 2 main species produced by fish farmers who received services from FISH. Both are endemic to Uganda and are relatively easy to raise.

PIR PMA PMP PRIME PSI RFP SAF SCOPE SO SO7 STTA UIA UMEMS USAID USD USh WRMD

Contents
Overview ............................................................................................................. 5 Creating an Aquaculture Industry .................................................................... 6 Demonstrating Fish Farming Technologies ...................................................... 8 Spotlight On Success........................................................................................ 11 Is Fish Farming Profitable?................................................................................ 13 Feed and Seed ................................................................................................. 18 Farmer-Driven Advisory Services and Training .............................................. 25 Access to Retail and Wholesale Markets....................................................... 31 Spotlight On Success........................................................................................ 34 Spotlight On Success........................................................................................ 37 Improving Policy ............................................................................................... 38 Strategic Activities Fund .................................................................................. 42 Project Monitoring and Evaluation ................................................................. 44 Administration and Staffing ............................................................................. 46 Institutional Linkages ........................................................................................ 47 Other Project Linkages ..................................................................................... 49 Cost-Sharing and Additional Support............................................................. 51 Women in Fish Farming: Leading by Example ............................................... 52 Farmers End-of-Project Comments................................................................ 53 Way Forward ..................................................................................................... 54 References ........................................................................................................ 56 Annex 1: Typical Progression of Aquaculture Development ....................... 58 Annex 2: Technology Testing and Demonstrations by FISH .......................... 59 Annex 3: Commercial Fish Farm Sales Report 2006-2007 ............................ 61 Annex 4: Commerical Fish Farm Sales Report 2007-2008 ............................ 62 Annex 5: FISH Training Sessions ....................................................................... 63 Annex 6: New Enterprises ................................................................................ 71 Annex 7: Presents SAF Approved Grants ....................................................... 73 Annex 8: Short-Term Technical Assistance (STTA), FISH Staff Travel, and FISH Presentations ..................................................................... 74 Annex 9: Indicators Summary: Fisheries Investment for Sustainable Harvest .......................................................................... 76 Annex 9, Table 1: Indicator Summary Sheet .................................................. 82
A Farmer-Driven Program: The farmers participated in the selection of the technical staff made their training needs known and made specific requests for training topics and sessions tested various improvements to fish farming techniques provided the data used to develop the technical recommendations were instrumental in disseminating technical information and identifying sources of inputs for the benefit of other farmers welcomed the use of their farms as training sites guided the FISH activities through active participation in steering committee meetings and through frequent communications with FISH staff sourced reliable partners for FISH attempted to provide input into the new project planning by their overwhelming participation in the end-ofproject presentation

Overview
Despite its limited scope, duration, and size, FISH (Fisheries Investment for Sustainable Harvest), a cooperative agreement between Auburn University and USAIDUganda, had a strong impact on growth of aquaculture in Uganda by facilitating development of a private sector-driven commercial aquaculture industry. This foundation now provides investors interested in fish farming with valuable information and access to four of their most important concerns: production costs, quality feed, seed, and markets. Because of this, Uganda currently presents a competitive advantage over many other African countries thanks to FISH demonstration farmers and industry collaborators. Favorable governmental policies and regulations will also certainly help to further enhance the industry. Nearly 30 percent of project funding was directly or indirectly infused into the private sector including more than $230,000 for the purchase of feed, supplies, and equipment distributed to fish farms for demonstrations; $260,000 (with matching private investments exceeding $500,000) for feed-manufacturing equipment to offset the risk associated with development of a new fish feed market; and approximately $225,000 for farmer training, student internship programs, and assistance to tertiary training institutions. This investment resulted in development of two new fish feed enterprises, four fish farming gear makers or vendors, and human resources capacity building for fish farmers and students (31 percent women) from 55 districts (4,970 person-days training). In its last year, FISH functioned very much as a national fish farmers association or national extension service might, except that the limited number of staff prevented it from spreading its services throughout the country. It had a small group of well-trained advisors that went to farms to provide advice and hold training sessions with farmers from throughout Uganda. It liaised with feed mills, net manufacturers, government authorities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and prospective donors. It provided objective advice to interested investors. It greatly increased free access to reliable aquaculture information based upon proven technologies, thus removing a major bottleneck. FISH engendered trust among participating farmers who, in return, reported their fish sales and inventory to FISH. The data were then summarized, and the information was used for the benefit of the farmers by identifying markets for those with inventory ready for sale and by suggesting suppliers for those seeking to purchase seed or fish to process. Farmers often sought qualified farm managers and hatchery workers for their farms from FISH. While many challenges remain in establishing a full-fledged commercial aquaculture industry, a sound foundation has been established and should be nurtured. The GOU and various donor agencies should continue to facilitate this private sector-driven industry to promote its growth and stabilization. This industry has the potential to lead East Africa and export much of its technology, feeds, and seed to the region. As the industry grows, it will provide an excellent value-added market for agronomic crops and fish processing wastes used as feed ingredients and generate jobs and economic growth for the region. As quality fish feeds become more available, a greater range of fish production options, such as cageand tank-based culture, will be within the reach of prospective fish farmers.

A worker positions a filter sock on the inlet pipe of a newly renovated pond. Improvements in screening of inlets and outlets for ponds and hatcheries were demonstrated by FISH.

Overview

Results Framework for FISH

Uganda Fishnet Manufacturers installed a heater/stretcher to improve the setting of knots in its netting. This was especially important for netting used in making cages. If knots slip, the mesh can open and allow fish to escape. FISH advised local businesses on needs of fish farmers.

FISH Results Framework

Expanded Sustainable Economic Opportunities for Rural Sector Growth

PIR 1 Increased production of farmed fish

Aerial photo of SoN Fish Farm Ltd. The total pond number and surface area has since doubled.

Feed and seed or fingerlings (PIR1.2) must be available in adequate quantities and of good quality. Advisory services must be present to assist new investors and producers (PIR1.3). These advisors will assist the producers in identifying markets (PIR2). There is an over-capacity of fish processors in Uganda, with most plants functioning at about 40 percent capacity. Between 2006 and 2008, several processing plants closed, citing lack of fish. Although the species farmed is different from the species

Creating an Aquaculture Industry

Creating an Aquaculture Industry

PIR 1.1 Improved cage and pond aquaculture technologies tested and demonstrated

Three years is insufficient to develop a fullfledged commercial aquaculture industry, given that fish farming was only a short step away from subsistence-level in 2005 (Annex 1). However, some examples of profitable fish farms could be attained and vast improvements on feed and seed quality and supply were possible. As fish supply became more predictable, market development could follow.

PIR 1.2 Increased quality and quality of inputs, especially feed and fish seed

In order to increase production of farmed fish, improved technologies must be demonstrated (PIR1.1) and the associated costs and profits documented. Therefore, the major activity of FISH was demonstration on a few farms to provide the examples of new technologies other farmers needed to see, document costs and profit margins, and form the basis for the recommendations made to commercial fish farmers.

PIR 2 Improved marketing of farmed fish

Aquaculture Industry Created

Creating an aquaculture industry means that elements needed for aquaculture businesses are present. If the industry is created, then there will be more farmed fish (PIR1) and markets for the farmraised fish will be developed (PIR2). Enabling government policies (PIR3) are also a necessary ingredient but were not in direct control of the project, so, they were initially set aside with a dashed line in the Results Framework diagram following the advice received from the earlier MEMS. However, FISH was able to make recommendations on improvements to policy that could make it more enabling for aquaculture development.

exported by processors, the equipment and skills present in the processing plants are, for the most part, the same. Therefore, processors and fish farmers should be linked (PIR2.1). The farmers should be aware of the size and quantities of fish required by processors and the processors should know which farmers have fish for sale. Aquaculture-produced fish are usually delivered to the processing plants alive, so there must be some knowledge and understanding of live fish transport techniques on the part of the farmer and/ or the processor (PIR2.2). Delivery of live fish to local markets allows more flexibility to the producers because their produce is less perishable than dead fish and they can negotiate better prices. In addition, fingerlings must be transported alive for farmers to succeed, so PIR2.2 is also linked to PIR1.2. FISH was aware that the supply of farm-raised fish was very low and intermittent. Therefore, although marketing is an important aspect in aquaculture development, the first step was to increase the production of farmed fish. Note that all of the indicators had to be addressed simultaneously; it was not possible to develop only one without the others.

PIR 3 Government policies provide enabling environment for aquaculture

Creating an Aquaculture Industry

PIR 1.3 Strengthed aquaculture advisory services

PIR 2.1 Improved linkage with processors

PIR 2.2 Improved techniques and equipment for live fish transport

Early challenges in the demonstration farmer program/selection The farmers beliefs that the only way to make money from fish farming was if a project pays for all the inputs Excessive and unnnessary expenditures made in starting up small fish farms prior to FISH led to losses and drained farmers cash reserves Farmers had been given the impression by local advisors that fish farming was an easy way to make money Many fish farmers were absentee owners and sourced inexpensive managers, many of whom were un-trainable Pond construction was, for almost all farmers, poorly understood and poorly undertaken by experts; at great cost to the farmer The solution: Convince the farmers to renovate just one pond and provide the trained expertise to assist them Split the costs of the inputs with the farmer: new feed to be tested would be provided for one pond; fingerlings were purchased by the farmer but transport provided by FISH FISH loaned the gear for sampling and provided some of the labor to assist in monthly sampling Demonstration farmers were given first pick on interns sponsored by FISH The internship program supplied a pool of better-trained individuals in case the farmer wanted to hire a new manager Farmers were required to keep records and share them with FISH In return for FISH assistance, farmers had to allow for one half-day per week for other farmers (accompanied by FISH) to visit

Demonstrating Fish Farming Technologies

For those who wish to start new fish farms or improve the farms they already have, examples of successful fish farms are very useful. Financing is also necessary. Some documented examples of different fish farming options are needed in order to generate enterprise budgets that banks can use as references. Shortly after FISH began, a set of criteria was developed to select the demonstration farmers. Competition to be selected was high and expectations among the farmers were even higher. Only one of the farms was making any money (a very small profit) and none of the farms had reliable production. In general, the belief was that fish farms could only make money if a project pays for everything. As FISH staff began farm visits to select the demonstration sites, they could see that farmers were investing large amounts of money in things that were poorly designed or just did not work. Therefore, the promise FISH could make was that the farmers would be shown how to not waste any more money. New technology specific for the farmers location and situation would be suggested and the first trial items would be paid for by FISH. The new feed would be provided for the trials, but the farmer would be responsible for all labor, other feed being used on the farm, and all recordkeeping. As the first demonstrations to show proper stocking density and feeding were planned, it became quite clear that the shallow ponds found throughout Uganda would never perform very well, no matter how good the feed. Therefore, pond renovation was necessary for almost all of the demonstration sites. Pond renovation and construction became a large part of the training program and increased understanding of pond construction principles by hundreds of farmers is a major FISH achievement. Although only five demonstration farms were to be selected, FISH staff decided to begin work with twelve farms, knowing that some would drop out. In fact, three farms dropped out by the end of the first year but more farms asked to be included and wanted only assistance with fish transport and sampling. The farms were needed to run some trials on tilapia production because the data gathered up to then (2007) was insufficient for management recommendations. Working closely with the demonstration farmers allowed FISH staff to better understand their management problems and to address the sectoral needs such as equipment and feed. One major problem stemmed from absentee owners. The most successful farms were those with actively-involved owner/operators. Absentee owners who succeeded were in very close touch with their managers and, often after several trials with different managers, found a person with whom they could work and have confidence. Management of staff remains a big constraint on some fish farms. Increasing the level of intensity of the farm and investing in expensive inputs are not advisable for farms with management problems. By the middle of 2007, the demonstration farmers presented their own results and advice to new farmers at the first fish farmers symposium. All farms had their ponds rehabilitated to recommended standards. Three farms that received assistance dropped out, including: 1. Nakasozzi Fish Farm, Wakisotilapia grow-out and catfish grow-out, 2. Nansana Fish Farm, Wakisotilapia grow-out, and 3. Ssisa Fish Farm, Wakisodid pond renovations but dropped out before stocking. A fourth farm, owned by Uganda Fish Packers and located at their old landing site in Jinja, was used from 2005 through 2007 and then released from the trials after the manager was transferred and oversight was not possible. The farm provided some very valuable information on cage farming, catfish pond carrying capacity, tilapia grow-out, and tilapia nursery. Table 1 lists the demonstration and trial farms at the end of the project. A list of all technologies that have been demonstrated is listed in Annex 2, organized by subject area.

Most ponds in Uganda are merely dug, and soil piled up to form levees. This works in the short term but increases maintenance costs over the long run and reduces the production potential of the pond. FISH showed farmers and interested contractors how to move less soil shorter distances and compact the pond levees in layers, thereby constructing a sturdy pond at the same or less cost than the traditional ponds.

Demonstrating Fish Farming Technologies

Demonstrating Fish Farming Technologies

Table 1. Participating Demonstration and Trial Farmers

Demo/Trial Farm
1. Blessed Investments Ltd., Mityana, 2005* Edron Fish Farm, Wakiso, 2008* Lubugumu Fish Farm, Mpigi, 2008* Mpigi Fish Farm, Mpigi, 2005*

Technologies Demonstrated
Water harnessing for aquaculture Feed based tilapia and catfish pond grow-out Cage culture in reservoirs All male tilapia pond grow-out, hand-sexed All male tilapia pond grow-out, hand-sexed Feed based catfish grow-out in ponds Tilapia nursery for SRT** Catfish hatcherysmall scale, semi-natural spawning, early rearing in hapas and ponds, improved water exchange using DC submersible pumps in ponds and outdoor tanks, nursery ponds with wooden harvest basins Feed based catfish grow-out in ponds Feed based catfish grow-out in ponds Catfish hatcheryin wooden tanks with liner, pond aeration, nursery ponds with harvest basins, water constrained hatchery, lined nursery ponds, harvest basins, holding facilities for hatcheries, hatching jars, airlifts, hatchery aeration with DC-battery and solar and air blowers, water re-use to ponds, use of DC submersible pumps in zooplankton harvesting and improve water exchange through hapas, production management practices, aeration with tyre tube, water re-use with wooden tank, health management, and degassing; artemia hatching (small unit). Training center for farmers Tilapia nursery management for SRT Catfish hatchery, all in tanks; aeration, artemia hatchery, reduction of carbon dioxide by aeration, and use of hydrated lime Cage culture in reservoirs Water harvesting for aquaculture; Also has catfish hatcheryaeration, degassing, nursery ponds with harvest basins Tilapia pond grow-outmonosex; feed and fertilizer Catfish pond grow-out; formulated feed and offals Tilapia pond nursery management Cage culture in lakealso demand feeders for sinking feed; is a tilapia hatchery, selective breeding and SRT; harvest basins; happa-based fry treatment Catfish hatcherywater re-use system, pumped water from lake; water management, raceways and grow-out tanks, nursery ponds; some catfish grow-out to food size in tanks Rural small-scale hatchery, no power, water harnessing, aeration with aquarium pumps, catfish pond nursery management from 3 days old Tilapia nursery for SRT Tilapia hatchery for mixed sexreceding Catfish grow-out in ponds; feed and offals Catfish grow-out in ponds, feed and offals SRT tilapia grow-out in ponds, feed and fertilizer Feed based catfish grow-out in ponds SRT tilapia grow-out monosex, feed based Catfish grow-out in ponds, offals SRT tilapia grow-out in ponds, feed and fertilizer Feed based catfish grow-out in ponds Feed based catfish grow-out in ponds
Musoomerwa Buyinza Mutalib Director, MUSO4 F Enterprises Lukunghu A Village Busalaamu Parish Bukhanga Sub-County Luuka County Iganga District

Spotlight On Success
Before
I started fish farming in the year 2000 with the primary objective of earning an income. My objective was to produce both tilapia and catfish fingerlings and table fish. The total area of my fish farm about 2, 500 m2. I started my catfish hatchery in 2002 and got some technical assistance from FAO that helped me set up and get my hatchery going as a simple rural catfish hatchery. The management practices I used then up until 2005/6 when I became one the demo-farmers for the USAID FISH project enabled me produce up to 5,000 fingerlings at most per cycle. However, the major challenge I faced, which really plagued me, was that my production results were irregular, so much so that I had come to believe that successful production depended on chance and probably the favour of particular seasons. Growth rates were so inconsistent between cycles, survival rates so low. Consequently, I could not rely on my fish farm as a source of earnings. I strongly believed that if I wanted my hatchery to become successful, then I needed a lot of capital so that I could have the investments other farmers had, notably Mr. Digo of Sun Fish Farm, who has the largest catfish hatchery in the country. The project focused on traininggiving us the basic science and showing us how to apply this information. The most important thing stressed was understanding the principals of production, learning and understanding your farm, assessing what resources one had at hand to invest into their operations (and this not just cash but land, whether or not you had electrical power at the site, your markets), and using the information and knowledge at hand to harness the resources and transform the farm into a viable and profitable venture. Being realistic was among the projects key messages. So I learned water quality, about feed, nutrition, handling fish, live fish transportation, keeping and analysing my records. I never imagined there was so much I needed to know. The equipment that was loaned to us to test and demonstrate on the farms was, likewise, what was most appropriate to our needs. For example, among the problems that affected my production was water quality. I had low oxygen levels and high carbon dioxide levels in the hatchery because my source of water was direct from an underground stream. There are many ways of dealing with these problems, from simple to the most costly and high-tech. In my situation, the solutions that we zeroed on were a reservoir and 12V batteryoperated aerators because of my capital base and the fact that I had no power. The effect was significant. I made a 240 m2 reservoir (essentially a pond) for the water from the spring to pass through first before it entered the hatchery. My carbon dioxide levels subsequently dropped from 65 ppm to 12 ppm (recommended level is less

2. 3. 4.

5. 6. 7.

Naluvule Fish Farm, Wakiso, 2005* Samarieza Fish Farm, Mukono 2005* Umoja Fish Farm, Wakiso, 2005* (first demonstrations in March 2006)

8. 9. SunFish Farm Ltd, Wakiso, 2005*

Namayenje Fish Farm, Mukono, 2005*

10. Source of Nile Fish Farm, Mukono (began assistance in 2005 before farm constructed) 11. Interfish, Wakiso, 2007*

12. MUSO4 Fish Farm, Iganga, 2006*

After the Project

When I was selected as among the demo-farmers of the USAID FISH Project, I thought my prayers had been answered and I would finally receive all the financial and technical assistance to transform my hatchery into another mini Sun Fish Farm or better. However, this was not to be the case and I do admit I was initially disappointed.

13. Mugoya Farm, Iganga, 2008* 14. Nabitende Fish Farm, Iganga, 2008* 15. Karims Fish Farm, Iganga, 2008* 16. Emma Fish Farm, Pallisa, 2008* 17. Kitangala Fish Farm, Wakiso, 2007*

* Year they began receiving technical backstopping from FISH

10

Demonstrating Fish Farming Technologies

Spotlight On Success

11

Is Fish Farming Profitable?

than 12 ppm), the water pH rose from 4 to 7, the dissolved oxygen levels rose from 4 ppm to 7.3 ppm (recommended + 5 ppm) and my water temperature rose from 24C to 28C (recommended 27 28C). For me, this was a bonus at almost zero cost (other than, of course, my sweat). With the battery operated aerator, I was able to maintain dissolved oxygen levels in my hatching tank at about 5 ppm. I also appreciate having the small 12V aerator systems more than the more elaborate electrical blowers now because the 12V system allows me the flexibility to buy cells in town, I can use old car batteries that can be re-charged and, when I get money, I can eventually invest in solar. It is likely to take years before power comes to my area. Consequently, with improved feeding, my production increased from at most 650 fingerlings/kg female spawned to 2,000-3,000 fingerlings/kg female spawned more predictably. I can now plan a production cycle and really produce to a targeted market. This has allowed me make decisions that have improved my business. For example, if I get a large order, because I know the limits of my system, I straight away get in touch with another farmer who helps me meet the difference. I can attach batch and lot numbers to bags because I can assure my product and package is much better. Now I have hired an additional person on my farm on a monthly basis. In addition, I have diversified my business. Because I had to re-do my ponds, I had compactors fabricated. I now hire these out. I also hire out my services helping farmers seine or sample their ponds, rehabilitating their ponds and linking them to the market. As far as I am concerned, though, my greatest benefit from the USAID FISH Project has been the knowledge I have gained. This is because it is the knowledge and practical skills that has allowed me to use my resources in the most profitable manner. It has helped me make adaptations like my mobile harvest basin as well as better investment decisions. The investment decisions I make now are more focused at addressing the key bottlenecks on my farm. For example, when I knew I had been selected for an ADB grant in about 2004/5, I immediately thought I should construct more ponds, and put dam liners in my ponds. When we finally got the grant this year, my priorities had changed. Because of my power situation and capital base I decided to repair my ponds myself to the required specifications the project gave us and spend the grant getting essential equipment to improve my quality and on infrastructure to manage the most sensitive stages of hatchery management better. I have saved money.

Enterprise Budget Data

FISH technical staff collected data on production costs and pricing at the demonstration and trial farms starting in 2005 and continuing beyond the project end date. Capital investment and operating costs for fish farming are highly variable due to the range of intensity and practices that are available, so no single enterprise budget will serve to answer the question Is fish farming profitable? A set of enterprise budget worksheets that allow a farmer to insert prices for their situation was introduced during the 2008 Fish Farmers Symposium and distributed on compact disc. The worksheets are also available on the project website www.auburn.edu/fish/international/uganda. However, after numerous meetings with prospective fish farmers and donors, the commonly asked questions on the economics of fish farming in Uganda can be summarized below. No land costs have been attributed because land prices are so variable. But the information on returns per land area can help an investor decide on fish farming or help a fish farmer decide upon alternative uses of the land.

Sunfish Farm was the first commercial hatchery in Uganda.

Poor understanding of pond construction principles and lack of knowledge on the clients side lead to excessive pond construction costs. Several farmers and many donors have been tricked into paying well over 5,000 USh per square meter for ponds that do not even meet the minimum quality standards. Construction costs of $0.80 to $1.50 per square meter pond area are typical in East Africa. Poorly constructed ponds cost more to maintain, reduce efficiency of labor, and can lead to wasted feed.
Small cages

Small, locally-made canoes sell for about $100 and are sufficient for working near-shore sites, but larger boats with motors are needed for large-scale cage operations.

Capital Investments
Pond construction costs

Using hand labor for pond construction, and simple implements for ponds of 1,000 square meters surface area and less, a cost of 2,500 USh ($1.38 USD using the exchange rate of 1,800 USh/$) per square meter is used. There have been documented instances of 1,800 USh per square meter as well as much higher construction costs. Use of prison labor is not necessarily less costly than hiring local workers. Proper site selection and sizing of the ponds based upon topography allow for costs to be on the lower range.

A 2 x 2 x 2 meter mesh cage costs $80 at Uganda Fishnet Manufacturers. Each production cage should use a double mesh (two cages). In general, a properly sited cage of this size will produce about the same amount of tilapia as a pond of 1,200 square meters: about 1 ton. Ready-made cages with all framing, floats, and double mesh sell for $300 to $500. Lifetime should be estimated as two years. Mooring is done in rows and anchors are made of concrete and metal scraps. One set of floats and anchors can moor about ten cages, depending on currents at the site. A small boat to service cages near shore costs $100 to $250.

Operating Costs and Returns

Food fish production in ponds

Based upon use of formulated feed and correct stocking densities, the return above variable costs is 15 to 25 percent of total variable costs, or about 500 USh per kg of fish produced. It can be as low as zero if survival has been low or the feeding has been done poorly. Likewise, it can be greater than 500 USh/kg if the fish are retailed in a niche market. Feed makes up the majority of the production cost (about 50 to 70

12

Spotlight on Success

Is Fish Farming Profitable?

13

Farmers: the REAL experts

percent), followed by seed and labor. The enterprise budgets made by FISH use only the major variable costs of feed, seed, labor, and interest payments to show farmers how these affect the bottom line. More detailed enterprise budgets should be made for a business plan. If the four costs listed above do not capture 90 percent of variable costs, then there may be a problem. The biggest problem in Uganda has been an exaggerated prediction of potential fish production. The predictions were based upon what was seen or heard on study tours without attention to the level of technology required to attain such production levels. In static water or with small amounts of water exchange, the limit is 5 to 8 tons per hectare (T/ha) for tilapia production and 18 to 24 T/ha for catfish production. Growing time is 8 to 10 months in the areas of 1,100 meters elevation, depending on market size. At lower elevations, growing time can be as short as 6 months. Improperly constructed ponds will result in only about 60 percent of these production levels. Poor quality feeds or incomplete diets will result in production limits (carrying capacity) of one-half the above. Given the lower production limit of tilapia, one would think that catfish is more profitable, but this doesnt actually appear in the enterprise budgets until the pond cost is included. Tilapia seed are less expensive than catfish seed and tilapia tend to have a better feed conversion ratio (FCR) because they can benefit from the natural food in the pond more than can catfish. Catfish can take longer to reach market size if market size is 1 kg. A market size of 400 g makes catfish a much more profitable venture. Some farmers have developed markets for 500-g catfish.

Combinations of catfish and tilapia are often more profitable than tilapia alone and there are several options for how to operate this type of system. The choice of catfish or tilapia is therefore open. It is easier to teach catfish production because there are fewer management options. Personal preference and market opportunities will therefore be the deciding factor. Using a feed price of 1,000 USh/kg and a fish price of 3,000 USh/kg, returns above variable costs are estimated at about $550 per acre of land use for tilapia production and more than $1,000 per acre of land use for catfish production. Although fish production is based upon surface area of water, the total land use by the ponds will be 15 to 25 percent greater to account for the area occupied by the dikes or levees. Smaller ponds use a greater percentage of additional land. A factor of 25 percent additional area is used on the estimates above.
Cages

The internship program provided opportunities for young women from FTI to demonstrate their hatchery management abilities. Many stayed on as employees following their internship.

capital costs, the family income could grow to $300 per month, even if the operating costs were borrowed for every production cycle (see abstract on page 17.) This includes investing 25 percent of initial capital costs to cover some cage replacement, etc. every 8 months. The biggest problem with cage culture will be financial management on the part of the farmers. These data are preliminary; as floating feed production is initiated, more trials would be warranted.
Catfish hatchery

potentially profitable choice for small farms and the catfish bait market is huge (an estimated 300 million fingerlings per year). Even if water is pumped and aeration is used in the hatchery, production costs of about 80 USh per piece are possible if the hatchery is well-planned. This includes the use of imported larval diet. In fact, the hatchery with the lowest production cost per fingerling uses the most expensive feed and continuously runs an air blower.
Tilapia hatchery

Returns above variable costs are similar to pond production but the capital investment is lower, even when the cost of a surface water use permit is included. The first trials for cage culture indicate that risk of losing the crop is higher than for pond culture although these risks can be mitigated for a large part by selecting the right farm staff that pay attention to detail, and by support from local authorities whereby they limit activities near the cage sites and prosecute thieves. A set of eight cages requires a total investment of over $14,000 to cover capital costs and the first round of operating costs, including living expenses for the farmer. During the first season, a family would have to live on $70 per month. After paying off the

The hatcheries that use resources wisely and gear their production levels to water availability end up with the lowest unit cost of production and greatest profits. As expectations exceed the water resources, the only way to increase production with limited water is to invest in technology. This increases cost of production but that is not necessarily a disadvantage. As intensity increases, profit margin is reduced but there is usually a concurrent and greater increase in volume, which results in greater overall net profit. However, untrained personnel or inappropriate technology choices can cause the total volume of production to remain the same and only reduce overall profit. Data collected from various hatcheries show that operating costs range from 50 to 130 USh per catfish fingerling produced. Selling price is 180 to 250 USh each, depending on size and volume of the sale. Although large numbers of catfish fingerlings can be produced on a relatively small land area, the enterprise requires much greater technical understanding on the part of the farmer or hatchery manager. A large amount of the training effort of FISH was dedicated to training in hatchery management because catfish hatchery was the most

Once again, tilapia are so diverse in production options that it is difficult to assess profit margins for tilapia production. Another problem stems from the tendency of farmers to select poor-growing tilapia as broodstock and seed. FISH recommended that farmers purchase sex-reversed tilapia fry of about 1 g and grow them in nursery ponds or nursery happas to fingerling size using a combination of fertilizer and powdered feed. Total time to reach the fingerling size is 1 month for a 5- to 8-g fingerling and 2 months for a larger size that is better to use for cage culture. This fast turnover time is easy on cash flow. The estimated return to land and management is about 1.5 million USh per acre ($833), but this is on a very short cycle of 2 months so about five cycles can be run per year. Demand for quality tilapia fingerlings is not high because many farmers still use the reproduction remaining from previous cycles. However, as cage farming grows, the tilapia nursery business can be very lucrative and is an excellent business for the small farms of less than 1 ha water area (more than 90 percent of fish farms in Uganda are less than 1 ha). Many cage operations may choose to grow their own fingerlings, but, if their lake-side site is

Sampling trial cages on Lake Victoria.

14

Is Fish Farming Profitable?

Is Fish Farming Profitable?

15

60,000 50,000 Value (000 Ush) 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 0

Example 1: One Large Pond

Planning a Small Aquaculture Business Based upon Markets in Uganda*

*abstract of accepted presentation at World Aquaculture Society 2009, Vera Cruz, Mexico

The small cage shown below has an outer predator cage and an inner feed ring, both colored black. 190 kgs of tilapia was harvested from this small, 1 cubic-meter cage.

High Density Tilapia Culture in Locally-Made, Low Volume Cages in Uganda

*abstract of accepted presentation at World Aquaculture Society 2009, Vera Cruz, Mexico

11

13

15

17

19

21

23

80,000 70,000 Value (000 Ush) 60,000 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 1 3

Example 2: Several Small Ponds

In deciding how large a fish pond should be, topography and land ownership are only part of the equation. Projected market is a key factor in planning a commercial fish farm, no matter how large or small. Marketing plan is also important when deciding on pond size. A series of on-farm trials were conducted in Uganda from 2006 through 2008. Collected data estimates carrying capacity at about 18 to 20 T/ha for clarias catfish culture in static water ponds. Feed conversion ratios of 1.8 were obtained using locally available sinking pellets. Enterprise budgets showed clarias catfish farming to be profitable if a loan was not taken to pay operating costs, interest rates being around 24 percent per anum.

Small-scale farmers who may have access to a technical package often fail to adopt due to cash flow constraints. Even if one season of profitable production is achieved, farmers have many obligations that may prevent them from duplicating these results. High cash expenses for several months followed by a one-time cash inflow make it difficult for farmers to manage in the African social context. A model is presented whereby pond size is set based upon market to provide a steady flow of income from a small fish farm. The model farm producing 200 kg per week for sale, should net about $3,000 per year income.

From 2006 through 2008, a series of cage culture trials was carried out at several sites in Uganda. Four sites in near-shore waters on Lake Victoria and two sites on private reservoirs were used. Cage size ranged from 1 to 6 cubic meters water volume. Cage design developed in China was adapted to conditions observed at the sites. Large numbers of cormorants and pelicans tended to congregate at the cages. Flotation and cage covers had to be altered in light of heavy bird activity and wave action. Initial trials experienced high mortalities due to a lack of adequate fish holding facilities prior to stocking. Over time, holding methods were improved but a different type of conditioning proved to be more appropriate for Uganda: use of very small mesh conditioning cages. Another problem identified was pre-transport harvesting and handling. Cage design, transport method, and conditioning improvements are described for high density cage culture of Oreochromis niloticus.

Crops of 150 kg per cubic meter are possible and survival above 80 percent is common when proper conditioning and nutrition are practiced. When floating feed is not available, sinking feed can be used if applied with a demand feeder that is used as a trickle feeder. Daily growth rates of 2 to 3 g are observed in cages in Lake Victoria where water temperature averages 26C. A major effort is being made to reduce fishing pressure on Lake Victoria but alternative livelihoods are needed. Enterprise budgets and cash flow analysis indicate that a family could earn much more from a set of eight small cages after the initial investment than from fishing in Lake Victoria. Various financing options are discussed, based upon the costs and revenues summarized below:

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13

15

17

19

21

23

Cumulative Income Cumulative Expenditures

Table 2. Small Catfish Production Business Based upon Markets in Uganda

Weekly sales (kg) Weekly home Size of nursery consumption (kg) pond (m2) Size and number growout ponds Total amount (USh) required to start and $US equivalent Monthly net income (USh)
Cages located near the outlet of Lake Victo-

50

10

38

150 m x7
2

3 million= $1,500

150,635= $75

ria, at SoN Fish Farm Ltd. Each cage is 2 x 2 x 2 meters. Locket covers reduce theft.

Table 3. Start-up costs and expected revenues of a small cage culture business in Uganda
Amount in $US
Investment: cages, boat, mooring, 5-yr permit Operating: feeds and fingerlings 3,000 8,850 640 12,490 1,874 14,400

100

10

63

250 m2 x7

5.4 million= $2,700 317,725= $160

200

21

125

500 m x7
2

12 million= $6,000

485,450= $242

Living Expenses during first production phase: Total cash needed: Interest on loan (15% for 8 months): Expected revenue:

16

Is Fish Farming Profitable?

Is Fish Farming Profitable?

17

Feed and Seed

Uganda has the major ingredients for fish feed manufacture although a source of solvent-extracted soybean meal would make fish feed and other animal feed production much more competitive.

inappropriate, a nearby farmer could capitalize on this opportunity.

3.

Feeds
Fish feed production and training farmers how to use and evaluate feeds were a major activity of FISH. Farmers report that this is the most useful information obtained from FISH. Prior to FISH, consultants would go the farms, mix feeds in secret, and require the farmer to hire them for each batch of feed mixing. The feeds promoted by most advisors were based on maize bran with added dried mukene and some oilseed cake. Vitamin premixes specific for fish were not available in Uganda and, as a result, vitamin deficiencies were evident, especially in catfish fed home-made feeds. Farmers did not know how to tell if they were getting appropriate feed. Feeds made at such small scale on the farm usually cost almost double factory-made feed and were highly variable in quality because the farm workers did not have sufficient background to know how to change formula if a particular ingredient was in short supply. In 2005, two feed mills were producing pellets that were sold as fish feed but their formulations were based upon what they knew about poultry. Protein levels were inadequate and pellet integrity was poor.
Activities to address the feeds problem

4.

5.

6.

1.

One problem in teaching fish farming is that the crop is not always visible. Use of floating fish feed allows farmers to see their animals at feeding time and to know when the fish have ceased feeding, thus preventing wasted feed.

2.

Fish feed specialist Dr. Allen Davis visited Uganda annually to help train farmers and advisors on fish feed making, evaluation and management. Early efforts brought together individuals interested in selling, making, and using feed to examine the possibilities for a modern fish feed plant to begin in Uganda. The resulting proceedings have been a useful reference document for many fish farm investors and potential feed mill investors.

In March 2006, Ugachick Poultry Breeders Ltd., with FISH help in formulation, began making sinking pellets at two different protein levels. A vitamin premix was imported by FISH and provided to Ugachick for the first 6 tons of sinking feed. After that, Ugachick was able to source its own premix that included stabilized vitamin C. FISH imported floating fish feed from the U.S. to use as a demonstration and to compare with the locallymade sinking fish feed. FISH staff began trials with farmers to test the imported floating and the locally-made sinking feeds and develope advisory brochures on how to best use the feeds. Feeding charts were made to indicate daily amounts to feed fish and then adjusted based upon results obtained on the farms. Three iterations of the charts were made. The most recent version was distributed in September 2008. The majority of the Strategic Activities Funds was devoted to improving the fish feed-making capacity of the country because of its importance to aquaculture development. This included an evaluation of three companies potential for manufacture of floating fish feed.

FISH Successes Development of the first quality commercial pelleted fish feeds manufactured in Uganda and specifically formulated for tilapia and clarias catfish using mostly locally available ingredients Instrumental in introducing feed extrusion technology and its adoption by a local fish feed mill providing opportunity for rapid expansion of feed-based production, particularly cage farming Increased access to imported specialized catfish larval diets for hatcheries Improvement in the quality of tilapia seed through assistance to private selective breeding programs; the improved seed is now available and currently sold as fry to out-growers around the country, grown in nursery ponds to fingerlings, and sold to production farmers Increase in the number of catfish fingerlings produced and the number of hatcheries, with the most successful ones advised by FISH

specialist funded under CDE. Although SoN farm makes small amounts of feed, the farm was able to supply feed to other farmers after Ugachick had machinery problems and could not supply sufficient quality feed to meet demand. SoN farm has the ability to make small amounts of specialty feeds that are now being tested at catfish hatcheries. Tilapia farmers who switched to SoN feed (which sinks slowly) reported much better feeding response and growth rates compared to the faster-sinking Ugachick feed. FISHs justification for assisting a second feed manufacturer was to have another alternative source, which proved useful when the Ugachick mill was down for repairs. The latest set of proximate analyses indicated that SoN feed was correct in its protein levels and that Ugachicks levels were about 2 percent lower than its targeted 30 percent protein. The difference can be explained by the mukene (freshwater sardines) used in the feeds. SoN uses fresh mukene and therefore does not have problems with sand and gravel adulterations. Ugachick functions at a much higher throughput and cannot obtain fresh mukene in the amounts required by the factory; so, it has been forced to purchase dried mukene. Attempts at quality control have been made but mukene vendors are difficult to convince. The majority of the mukene in the formulation should eventually be replaced by soybean meal. Ugachick plans to source the first solvent extracted soybean meal made in Rwanda from a factory to be commissioned in 2009. Another possibility is protein concentrate from chicken hatchery wastes. Additional machinery would have to be installed at Ugachick to make a safe protein concentrate. The machinery has been identified but the company is not able

to make the $150,000 purchase at this time.

Recently, another fish feed has hit the market. The feed does not meet any of the quality standards. It is not pelleted and does not appear to be cooked, nor is it compounded. Proximate analysis shows protein at 20 percent (it is advertised as being >30 percent protein) and fiber to be very high. The fiber part of the feed floats whereas the higher protein portions sink. High fiber in fish feeds results in lower digestibility of protein. Fortunately, the farmers who have benefitted from FISH training are able to recognize that the feed is not the required quality. Farmers who were not trained by FISH may not be able to evaluate the feed adequately. Following the feeds symposium held in 2006, Balton Uganda began importing small amounts of specialized feed required to wean catfish from live feed to manufactured feed. They import about 3 tons at a time and then repackage it into smaller bags. This allows farmers who do not need an entire bag of weaner diet to try small amounts of this rather expensive feed. A total of 18 tons has been imported by Balton Uganda since mid 2006. The feed supplier, RMC feeds of Israel, has requested FISH to suggest likely partners for a feed mill in Uganda. The catfish weaner diets have allowed hatcheries to increase their output considerably because the high quality feed does not pollute the water as much as the home-made diets did. The fish feeds issue is by no means resolved. An extruder is currently being installed and will likely begin production in June 2009. Although the formula used in the currently produced sinking pellets can be transferred

Nuvita (Jinja) attempted to make fish feed in 2007 and did so for a few months until the dies in their pellet mill were destroyed by equipment failures. Source of the Nile (SoN) Fish Farm began making its own feed in 2008. Some advice and equipment was provided by the FISH. However, as a member of the Commercial Aquaculture Producers of Africa, SoN farm will now begin receiving advice from a fish feeds

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Feed and Seed

Feed and Seed

19

New USAID project and other donors can help further the development of the fish feed sector by: Helping Ugachick, SoN, and any other interested feed maker to source maize and soya products from farmers groups; this should also greatly benefit the farmers Funding technical assistance to Ugachick for quality assurance in feed manufacture and training of its vendors, so, they will provide reliable advice to fish farmers Direct purchase feed from reliable feed makers for use in trials and demonstrations, especially where cage culture is concerned (as opposed to providing a grant to farmers to source their own feed) Assist farmers to purchase and store feed in large amounts, so, they can get bulk discounts or make savings on transport, especially in Northern Uganda Conduct spot checks on feed quality and proximate analysis of feeds from all fish feed manufacturers Assist interested companies in processing their poultry offals and hatchery wastes to make protein concentrates instead of burying them, which is the usual means of disposal

over to the extruded floating pellets, a better formula has been proposed that uses ingredients that are more consistent in quality and will reduce wear and tear on the new equipment. FISH staff was instrumental in assisting Ugachick to access funding from the CDE for additional technical advisory help. CDE is providing a 35,000 Euro grant to Ugachick for technical assistance and training of its equipment operators. Frequent equipment failures have limited feed production, which in turn has limited demand because some farmers ceased

nails that overwhelmed their screens and magnets. Access to unadulterated ingredients of consistent quality will continue to be a problem for feed manufacturers for many years, because the ingredients are sourced from thousands of small farmers and often consolidated by middlemen who have more concern for profit than for quality. There are many stories of middlemen adding two shovel-fulls of sand to every bag of dried mukene just to increase the weight . Ugachick and some of the other feed manufacturers know that their best option is to source ingredients through
Water stability test for pellets: After 15 minutes, the pellets on the left fell apart, whereas the pellets on the right held their form.

Feed-based fish culture is not for everybody. Tilapia can grow on natural food present in a pond and catfish can as well, but to a much lesser extent. This natural food can be enhanced by adding fertilizer to the pond. Chemical fertilizers such as urea and diammonium phosphate as well as manures and agricultural byproducts

can be used to provide the nutrients that promote production of natural food in the pond. However, the levels of fish production possible from these inputs are considerably lower than for feed-based aquaculture. Once the value of the land and cost of pond construction is taken into account, the fertilizer-based production option

Table 4. Local Fish Feed Production (MetricTons) by Ugachick and Other Manufacturers
Year
FY 2005 FY 2006 FY 2007 FY 2008

Ugachick
0.5 55.9 185.73 209.47

Other

Total Tons
0.5 55.9

10.3 (Nuvita) 51.1 (mostly SoN)

196.03 260.57

purchasing feed when it became too difficult to source. Ugachick planned to produce 10 tons per week but was never able to do so. In addition, price of feed almost doubled in 2008. This was a worldwide phenomenon and all animal feed prices experienced a similar or even greater increase. Fortunately for Ugandan fish farmers, fish prices increased as well. However, the sudden increase caught many farmers unaware and those who did not have steady fish sales could not source the cash to pay for the feed needed to finish growing their fish. Both Ugachick and Nuvita had machine breakdowns because their staff did not know how to operate the machinery, because of unreliable power, and contamination of feed ingredients with stones and

farmers groups that can exert some level of quality control over their members. Sale of fish feed is likely to be an important indicator of commercial aquaculture production and will be a much easier indicator to measure than individual farm production records. However, to translate from feed sales to fish production, the feed conversion ratio (FCR) must be reliably estimated. The FCR is the total kilogram (kg) of feed used to produce one kg net gain in fish weight. Using 2 as a feed conversion ratio may work for Uganda because FISH staff found that many farmers obtain between 1.5 and 2.3 FCR. Farmers who obtain greater than 2.3 will likely not make much profit and will not be able to stay in business unless otherwise subsidized.

Extruded, floating feed generally results in a 25 percent improvement in feed conversion ratio (FCR) because the feed is ground more finely and cooked, allowing for better digestibility. However, in Uganda, extruded feed results in 40 percent or more improvement in FCR because it is easier for the farmer to see how the fish are feeding and less feed is wasted. Better utilization of feed leads to higher profits and increases the carrying capacity of ponds because less waste enters the water.

Fish feed pellets of variable size are a result of improper, or lack of, cutter placement on the machines. Most of these pellets would not be consumable by tilapia.

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Feed and Seed

Feed and Seed

21

Engineers discussing installations with Ugachick owner, Aga Sekalala, pictured at far right.

becomes unprofitable. Therefore, feedbased aquaculture has been promoted for commercial fish farmers. Some fish farms do not achieve profitable production from feeds because the person feeding the fish is untrained or untrainable. These farms should decide if they wish to revert back to using fertilizers or agriculture byproducts, such as bran, or find somebody who knows how to feed fish. FISH has provided many hours of training in feeding methods and evaluation of feed records. This training should be continued. Farmers trained by FISH obtain an FCR of 1.8 to 2 with the feeds currently available in Uganda. This is better than the average catfish farm in the USA, where FCR is 2 to 3.

When feeds of good quality are available and in reliable supply, the options for fish production technology open up. This single factor allows for raceways, recirculating systems, tanks, and cages to be considered as alternatives to ponds. Imported floating fish feed sells for $750 to $1,500 per ton in West Africa. Ugachick expects to put its first floating 30 percent protein feed on the market for about $600 per ton.

Seed
High mortality of fingerlings during transport led officials to call for increased number of government hatcheries around the country. Instead, FISH promoted better live fish transport techniques and private hatcheries. If fingerling transport techniques were not improved, a hatchery could only serve a radius of 20 km. Improved live fish transport techniques allowed for a hatchery located in Jinja , for example, to supply fry to West Nile.

Hatcheries have become sources of information for their clientsthe production farmers. This relationship should be encouraged by providing hatcheries with training materials to hand out to farmers.

At the start of FISH there were several problems with seed supply. Farmers could not recognize if the fish they bought were in poor condition. Farmers did not know what size fry/ fingerlings to buy and did not know how many to put into their ponds. Advisors who made a larger profit on fingerlings they sold often advised to stock the pond with 5 to 10 times more fingerlings than what should have been stocked, thus resulting in excessive expenditures by farmers for no increased sales at harvest. Most seed were killed during transport due to very poor transport methods. Farmers did not recognize this and were always surprised at harvest to find only 10 to 20 percent of the fish originally stocked. Seed of unknown age was supplied, and chances were it was produced from the slowest growing fish. The biggest problem in catfish hatcheries was the deterioration in water quality at hatching time, which led to 90 percent mortality. Due to the high mortality during transport, the government decided to set up many fingerling production and distribution centers. FISH concentrated solely on private producers and addressed the transport problem directly. Catfish fingerlings are also a source of bait for the Nile perch fishery in lakes Victoria and Albert. Catfish hatcheries were, therefore, a key focus of FISH because they were likely to be the most profitable operation for small holders.
FISH activities were therefore centered around:

tion to increase fish survival at critical points in the fingerling production process, especially for catfish but also for tilapia in holding tanks; Teaching correct water quality monitoring, record keeping, and feeding techniques for both tilapia and catfish reared in hatcheries; Improving water quality in hatcheries using simple techniques that were within the means of the farmers, which required custom management packages for each hatchery; and Teaching farmers to use their records and make decisions based upon their own data.

The preconditioner, extruder, at right, and dryer, above, were assembled in the USA and shipped to Uganda, where it was removed from the containers and lifted into place.

Teaching proper handling and transport techniques for both tilapia and catfish; Showing farmers how to use aera-

Prior to 2006, FISH obtained data on sales from farms by phone interview because there were very few farms selling anything. In October 2006, the first fish sales and inventory reports were submitted by farmers and then quarterly thereafter. Annual summaries are presented in annexes 3 and 4. Between 2006 and 2007, a six-fold increase in tilapia seed sales and a nine-fold increase in catfish fingerling sales were reported. The following year, tilapia seed sales increased, but catfish seed sales decreased slightly (Table 5). The decrease stems from the largest catfish seed producer having trouble sourcing feed and management problems. In 2007, 42 percent of the recorded catfish fingerling sales went to bait. In 2008, the percent sold as bait was greatly reduced (to just 17 percent of reported sales) because the demand from fish farmers increased and hatcheries obtain better prices from fish farmers than they do from bait dealers. The fish farmers accept a smaller fish than do bait dealers and pay the same price, so hatchery owners found it more profitable to sell to fish farmers. Catfish hatchery owners reported a shortage of supply and had to turn away clients wanting to purchase baitfish. Customers started booking and paying in advance for tilapia as well as catfish fingerlings. Much of this increase

22

Feed and Seed

Feed and Seed

23

Remaining Opportunities A model catfish hatchery still does not exist in Uganda. A hatchery that uses power and one that functions without power should be constructed to function as models. Government hatcheries should not be encouraged and cannot function as models because they are not set-up to operate profitably. Donor-funded programs are often the promoters of unreasonably high stocking densities and do not insist on high quality fingerlings. This is often because the advisors working for the donors are taking an undeclarated commission on the fingerling prices. Every fish farm does not need its own hatchery. However, to assure quality seed, fish farmers could get together and share ownership in a hatchery for their own needs. As cage culture increases, there will be more need for large tilapia fingerlings. The small farms that cannot make a profit on food-size fish could be re-worked to function as tilapia nurseries for a particular locale. This would allow for the spread of selectively bred fish in Uganda and all-male tilapia fry produced by one farm to other farms when the fry are small enough to be transport in large numbers. It also spreads the profit. After the feeds problem is resolved, some work on selective breeding of catfish would further help the catfish farmers. A few hatcheries that produce millions of selectively-bred fry for distribution to hundreds of nursery outgrowers allows for quality assurance as well as spreading the benefits to a large segment of the population. Frequent grading of catfish (every 7-14 days) is recommended to reduce cannibalism. However, this can be very stressful for the fish. Many training programs were held to teach hatchery staff proper fish handling procedures.

Farmer-Driven Advisory Services and Training

in demand can be explained by the commencement of the African Development Bank-funded assistance to commercial fish farmers. Many fish farmers received grants to purchase inputs such as feed and seed for their farms. Although Uganda has considerable capacity to produce seed of tilapia and catfish, any sudden increase in demand will lead to momentary shortages as farmers gear up their production. This is not very different from any other agriculture commodity. Hatcheries will likely lack capital to suddenly increase seed production unless payment is made in advance.

Who are the Advisors?

The variety of information sources used by fish farmers was examined in a study conducted by two NaFIRRI staff (Atukunda and Walakira 2008). FISH was a major
Source of Information

4%

2% 2%

11%

Internet International Trainings

Table 5. Sales of Fry and Fingerlings from Farms Reporting to FISH*

Tilapia Fry and Fingerlings Year
2006 2007 2008

11%

Other Projects/Universities FISH Project Staff Posters Brochures

Clarias Catfish Fry and Fingerlings Number farms Number sold reporting sales
3 8 9 181,393 1,618,267 973,556
2% 2% 2% 17% 11% 36%

Number farms Number sold reporting sales

4 6 10 38,000 223,759 747,616

Radio Fellow Farmers ARDC Kajjansi Government/District Service Providers Private Service Provider

* Numbers provided are sales only and do not account for anything used on the farm.

advisors but they were not under NAADS. They were not even under the Department of Fisheries Resources (DFR) but answered to their respective districts as per the new decentralization policy. Fisheries Officers lack direct experience in commercial-scale aquaculture and there was no mechanism whereby they could be trained and supervised to give appropriate commercial aquaculture advice. In addition, the job of a Fisheries Officers is to enforce the fishing regulations, which does not engender the trust required to conduct extension activities. Therefore, no direct attempt was made to exclusively train Fisheries Officer, but they were invited to trainings. In addition, a small scholarship fund was set up under the Umoja training grant (Annex 7) to cover lodging fees for Fisheries Officers who wished to attend multiple-day trainings. One fisheries officer from Koboko, (West Nile) benefitted from this. Much of the advice on substandard construction methods, high stocking densities, poor fingerling transport methods and poor feed formulation originated with fisheries officers and some NARO offices. Farmers had lost confidence in government advisory services. However, private advisors were also difficult to control. To make matters worse, many government staff operated as private advisors, often during their normal working hours. In an effort to compete for the best-paying clients, personnel who are supposed to share information often hid it from their colleagues. Another problem that arose was that investors did not do their homework when sourcing advisors and often believed the people who predicted the highest output for the least inputs. FISH therefore printed a list of criteria to use when selecting

supplier of information, especially if one considers that the fellow farmers referred to in the report are FISH demonstration farmers. This study was limited to Central and Eastern regions, where FISH was most active. Western and Northern regions would probably show similar types of information sources, but the percent of farmers using FISH as a source would likely be lower.

Train advisors or train farmers?

In an effort to privatize the extension service, the NAADS had implemented a program whereby districts selected the services they need and NAADS contracted private extension agents to provide advisory services in a cost-sharing arrangement with the private producers. A few aquaculture advisors were contracted this way for a short time. Fisheries Officers based in the districts were expected to serve as extension

24

Feed and Seed

Farmer-Driven Advisory Services and Training

25

FISH Successes Developed of trained fish farm workers and managers through internship programs, mostly from the Fisheries Training

Thanks to farmers cost-sharing to supply their own transport and the on-farm locations of most trainings, more than 4,000 trainee-days was achieved for a total expenditure of less than $20,000 USD, not counting staff salaries.

an advisor or farm manager. These criteria were much appreciated by the farmers but less so by the advisors. Farmers became very insistent to have their own training and were prepared to help in organizing training sessions. FISH implemented a policy whereby farmers or other training candidates arrived at the training sites by their own means and, arranged their own overnight accomodations. FISH provided the mid-day meal during the training program and did not charge any training fees. Private advisors and Fisheries Officers were accorded similar treatment. The subject areas were largely determined by the farmers. FISH was overwhelmed by requests for training from people who really wanted information and were prepared to use their time and some small amount of money to get it: farmers and students.

Therefore, some 3- to 5-day programs were implemented. For this, lodging near the training site (fish farm) had to be available. A grant was provided to Umoja farm to overcome this constraint. Two other farms, Interfish and SoN fish farms, are in the process of installing housing for prospective trainees and interns. FISH was never meant to cover the entire country, so an effort could not be made to expand its training arm.
Training Activities

Institute and to some extent from other universities. Increased in the number of experienced and qualified advisors, most of whom are actual fish farmers. Implemented a profitable hatcheries and fish farms in Uganda as models for interested investors. Simplified record keeping allowed farmers to conduct self-evaluations of farming practices and make wise decisions based upon projected returns on investments. Development and wide distribution of aquaculture training handouts and manuals based upon local conditions and actual data from farms. Assisted in the approval by National Drug Authority of the importation of products used for sex reversal of tilapia,

4.

A variety of training opportunities were offered, as described below. 1. All STTAs (Annex 8) gave one to three seminars per visit, open to university, NaFIRRI, and other researchers and students. On-farm training sessions were provided in pond construction and renovation, feeding, fish handling, hatchery management, farm machine maintenance, harvesting techniques, fish transport, fish smoking, etc. All of these had some time for classroom instruction, but the majority of time was spent in the field. FISH used bulk cell phone texting services to send out reminders and announce the training sessions. Workshops/consultative sessions usually began with some presentations that imparted information and then encouraged discussions and decisions on problem solving. The proceedings were assembled and published for the fish feeds and the fish health consultative sessions and are available on the FISH website.

2.

making Uganda one of the few African countries to have them approved. Assisted two fish farmers organizations with 161 total members to provide advisory services and fish harvesting and marketing services. Initiated an annual fish farmers symposium and trade show and published the presentations on CD and on a website. Provision of one stop shopping for information on permitting, fish farm equipment and supply sources, qualified aquaculture personnel, and pertinent data on water and soil quality. The Uganda Investment Authority and the Department of Fisheries Resources both planned to perform this service but have yet to implement.

Fish farmers symposia and trade shows were held in 2007 and 2008. The first was for one day only and included presentations from all of the demonstration farms. Attendance was free and open to all and attendees were on their own for lunch. Presenters were provided a working lunch. A few tables were set up in the conference room to display products and services available to fish farmers, such as feed and cages. Total attendance was 215. The second symposium was held for two days and required a paid attendance. FISH cosponsored the symposium with Walimi Fisheries Cooperative Society (WAFICOS fish farmers group). A trade exhibition was held in a tent outside the conference room. Total number of paying attendees was 172. An estimated 100 more stopped in at the trade show and some sat in on a few sessions without registering. An internship program was developed in response to intense pressure and need on the part of the Fisheries Training Institute, FTI. In 2005-06, the drawbacks of the FTI curriculum and lack of field practice were addressed by FISH. There were also several complaints by farmers that FTI students were flooding the training programs. So, an internship program was devised in which FTI students would be placed on farms after their diplomas were awarded. However, the students did not have the field expertise needed to be useful to the farms; so, they were given a 3-week intensive training by FISH staff. Twenty one students asked to attend the course; some were even graduates of Makerere University. After the first week, it became apparent

that the group was too large, so it was broken into three groups of seven. Each group attended the second two weeks in succession. As the first group was finishing its second week of instruction on pond construction at SoN Fish Farm, five trainees decided to take a job offer from the farm. The best trainees who finished the 3-week program and who did not have to return to FTI for their last year were taken on as project interns to work at assigned farms for one year. A contract was made between the intern and the farmer. Interns were required to remain at a particular farm for at least 6 months after which they could switch farms if they wished. Three interns who did not perform sufficiently were removed from the program. The fact that FTI would graduate students who could not go directly to farms without a re-training program meant that FTI needed help as well. The internship program had some minor problems but was considered a success overall. Therefore, a second round of internships was proposed, but this time through an SAF grant to FTI. FISH was concerned that the FTI instructors would not be sufficiently qualified to oversee the interns; so, it included funds to allow them to attend some intensive training sessions. In addition, some funds were provided for FTI to set up a teaching hatchery. Some of the interns had been attendees of the earlier intern training sessions held in 2006; so, they had more background than the first group.

Table 6. Person-days of Training, 2006-2008

Year
2006 2007 2008 Total

5.

Number of Training Events

51 27 42 120

Female Trainee-days
374 529 637 1,540

Male Trainee- days

915 1,024 1,491 3,430

Total by Year
1,289 1,553 2,128 4,970

An estimated 1,200 different individuals attended these trainings. They came from 55 different districts; however, new districts were being created every year so this is probably an underestimate. Pre-intern training is counted as trainee-days but not the internship program itself. Attendance at the Fish Farmers Symposia is counted as training days. A full log of training is in Annex 5.

3.

Due to the location of the demonstration farms and the main goals of FISH, most training was held in Wakiso, Mukono, or Iganga. However, interest in training was high all around the country. Farmers from far away had to pay too much for travel if only a 1-day session was going to be held.

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27

In-Service Training
Engineer Winston Mashemererwa began learning pond renovation and construction from FISH staff starting in 2005 and was later supervisors under the FTI SAF and continues to provide help to students as a technical assistant at FTI.

6.
Uganda could become an aquaculture training destination for the region as a result of the private farms that offer a choice of technology levels to observe and increasing availability of on-farm or nearfarm lodging. However, more well-trained instructors, who have real commercial experience, are needed.

Typically, extension agents are most effective for beginning farmers. As the farmers gain production experience, they tend to out-pace the extensionists and often end up providing advice to the extension agents. Specialists in particular areas of fish farming, such as facility design and disease diagnostics, can continue to be valuable sources of information for farmers, but only if they keep pace with the farmers.

Another very important and useful training activity can be described as a sort of in-service training. Usually the person would begin by working on a volunteer basis and go into the field with FISH staff. After some time, small jobs would be given to them, for which they were paid a daily rate. Following that, a short-term contract would be given to perform specific tasks, under the close guidance and supervision of the FISH technical staff. This type of training was very successful and the trainees became very effective partners. These individuals are listed on page 30. What FISH could best term as tag-along training and advising was not well recorded but did provide a valuable service to prospective fish farmers. An initial conversation with FISH technical staff usually occurred in the office. The prospective farmer was advised to visit functioning fish farms. They usually asked to accompany the FISH staff on their visits to such farms. A rendezvous point was set up, and they would travel together to one or more fish farms. During the travel, the technical advisor would explain various aspects of fish farming. During the visit to the farm, the prospective farmer would sometimes negotiate further visits and professional services from the host farmer. In the final year of FISH, there were tag-along trainees almost weekly. Office visits were common and most were documented in the FISH office visitors book. Prospective fish farmers and struggling fish farmers often sought advice at the FISH office and

would have consumed the entire work schedule of the Chief of Party and two technical specialists, if allowed. However, their problems had a common thread, so a session was held for these farmers in 2008. Many more such sessions are still necessary.

given a short contract to oversee the pond renovations for the demonstration farmers. He was then hired by SoN Fish Farm to design and supervise the pond construction and other facility constructions. He helped in various FISH-sponsored training programs in pond construction. He is now the leading pond construction advisor in Uganda and is still employed by SoN. Emmanuel Mulamberi was specifically selected by Mr. Musomerwa to work on his farm as part of the intern program in 2006. He was the only non-FTI student to finish the intern program. His education at Busoga University did not provide him sufficient field practice, so, following his internship, he began organizing field work for Busoga University students and kept them informed about the training David Kahwa obtained his masters degree from Bunda College in Malawi. He worked with FISH staff for some months in the field and was given a short contract in 2007 to oversee the pond samplings and data collection from the demonstration farms. In the meantime, he taught the aquaculture class for the students in Veterinary Medicine and has helped organize seminars and other training sessions sponsored by FISH. He has instituted field trips for the students and has been a key to increasing the field exposure of Makerere University students. He also assisted in coordinating the subagreement between Auburn University and Makerere University. Godfrey Kubiriza and Maurice Ssebisubi began working with the FISH team as volunteers in 2008 after they returned from their masters studies at Bunda College in Malawi. They were hired on a daily basis to provide assistance in training and to help collect data Jean Baptiste Kakuru began organizing field days for FTI students in 2005 and his untiring interest in field training for FTI students led to the development of the internship program. Following his own time as an intern, Mr. Kakuru was paid to provide assistance to WAFICOS members. Most of his efforts were spent getting farmers to begin record-keeping. WAFICOS provided a motorcycle for his transport. Mr. Kakuru was one of the intern from the trial farms. Mr. Ssebisubi provided very valuable office assistance in collating reports and the training manuals. He continues to provide assistance to WAFICOS. Mr. Kubiriza was given the temporary job of training coordinator for Umoja farm under its SAF agreement and also provides assistance to WAFICOS members, mainly around Mukono. He also teaches some courses in aquaculture at Makerere University, Zoology department. opportunities under FISH. He was paid a daily rate for about one year to provide technical assistance to a group of farmers in Iganga following a study done by Gertrude Atukunda of NaFIRRI, which suggested that increased contact with FISH advisors was needed in the Iganga area. Mr. Mulamberi continues to advise farmers in Iganga and has started his own farm in Pallisa.

Opportunities
FISH provided many different types of training opportunities at all levels. Most of the people who attended FISH training sessions were farmers, university students, and FTI students, although government research officers were also among the beneficiaries. It would have been premature for FISH to train more trainers as its mandate was based upon a concentrated area and the development of the necessary inputs and the technology packages. However, for commercial fish farming to expand, more trainers must be made available. This will require a specific training of trainers program. FISH can now identify up to forty individuals, who, after 2 months of intensive field and classroom instruction could effectively advise new farmers and hold training sessions in most aspects of commercial aquaculture, including business planning. These individuals would only require occasional technical backstopping for special problems and a short annual session to help them consolidate their experiences and to harmonize technical recommendations. To make sure there is always a pool of qualified fish farm staff in the future, tertiary training institutions need to revise their curricula and include more field experience opportunities for their students. If they do not, the benefits of increased job opportunities resulting from the expansion of fish farming may go to non-Ugandans.

7.

Umoja Mixed Farm received a grant for equiping a training center.

8.

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Farmer-Driven Advisory Services and Training

29

25000000

Hatcheries
Mean Value of fingerlings sold (USh)
20000000

Access to Retail and Wholesale Markets

Farm Revenues Compared to Information Source
The ultimate test of information sources is the impact they have on net revenues to the farmer. When Atukunda and Walakira made their survey of fish farmers information sources, they only looked at gross revenues (shown at left). However, other responses to interview questions showed a high degree of satisfaction with the information provided by FISH. Note also that a project could easily generate high gross revenues by providing all of the inputs needed by the farmers at no charge. FISH did not do this, which led to about a one-year delay in implementation of the on-farm demonstrations. The training and technical backstopping provided by FISH should be used to enhance the information provided by the fish farming advisory services. Farmers should be allowed to select their advisory service provider as they are the ultimate beneficiaries or losers. However, farmers often accept an advisor provided by a donor so they can receive free inputs. Therefore, free inputs such as the seed provided by NAADS have led to a distortion of the service provider selection process. When the farmers are truly making a profit, they become much more demanding in quality information and other services. In this respect, fish farming is no different from other agriculture businesses. As with any farmer newly going commercial, the first few profitable crop cycles will give farmers the confidence to play a greater role in their own advancement.
FISH Successes Increased access to fish markets for local sales and for processing and export. Three processors purchased catfish from fish farmers and sold value-added products. Three processors have sourced farmed tilapia, but supplies were intermittent and in low volume due to a more lucrative local market for farmers. Improved local access to the equipment necessary for fish farming, such as fish transport gear, water testing supplies, and fish grading and harvesting gear. While some must be imported, local importers are present and the experienced advisors are knowledgeable in its use and maintenance. Development of the first locally manufactured, easy-to-use seines for harvesting ponds and nets for cage production through cooperation with a local net manufacturer. In 2005, farmers complained of lack of market. In 2008, farmers were more likely to cite lack of supply as they gained marketing experience and became more aware of market needs.

15000000

10000000

5000000

Source of information

As FISH was starting up, farmers were very vocal about their problems selling fish, so the marketing studies planned for a later year were begun earlier. It quickly became apparent that the problem was lack of fish, not lack of markets. The erratic supply of farmed fish required that markets be developed frequently and these markets were short-lived; sometimes only one day. Farmers would grow small amounts of fish and expect the market to come to them when their fish were ready. They often thought they had 10 or 20 times more fish than what they actually had in their ponds. The few farmers who actually had large amounts of fish in their ponds could not harvest them in a timely fashion. Buyers would arrive on schedule and have to wait for the farmer to drain the pond and pick the fish up out of the mud. When developing the indicators for marketing (listed in Annex 9), the sale of fish to processors was expected to show how large producers were able to sell in bulk. It was also expected to be much easier to collect production data from processors rather than trying to collect from individual farmers. However, the European Union (EU) has not approved importation of farmed fish from Uganda. The existing processors in Uganda were focused on export, and more than 90 percent of their product was Nile perch, which is not a good aquaculture candidate at this time. For effective marketing, the supply should be consistent and timely. A buyer should be able to arrive at the farm and begin loading fish immediately. This means the fish have to be harvested and held alive prior to pickup. In some cases a farmer could harvest and hold on ice but they would then become at the mercy of the

buyer when negotiating price because the product would be perishable. The first year, FISH merely helped producers identify markets on a case-by-case basis. One processor was buying catfish and one small-scale vendor (Fabulous Fresh Fish) began dealing in live tilapia and catfish around Kampala. These were sufficient to buy almost everything the farmers were producing because production was very limited. No farm had a production schedule that allowed for weekly or even monthly sales. After being misled about fish quantities on several occasions, buyers refused to pick up fish from the farm and began demanding delivery. The only trusted go-betweens were the FISH technical staff. A remedy to the marketing dilemma was sought by addressing several fronts at once. These included: Technology advances, that facilitated havesting fish from the pond; Information/communication services (inventory reports) about supplies and markets; Directly assisting farmers in selling their fish for the first time by providing transport to market; and Helping commercial farmers plan for the market before they construct facilities. Several technology introductions have helped the farmers with their marketing. By far, one of the best aids has been the Commercial Fish Farm Seine (CFFS). Instead of having 20 people in the pond pulling a net that hardly stays on the pond bottom, the CFFS is designed and made for highly efficient capture of fish if the seine crew is trained. Two people can

2500000

Food Fish Producers

Mean Value of table size fish sold (USh)
2000000

1500000

1000000

500000

Source of information

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Access to Retail and Wholesale Markets

31

Portable live tanks were made and demonstrated. The idea was to allow a vendor at a market to hold live fish and then pack up the tank and take it with him on a bodaboda (motorcycle). Two tanks were made

Bag

operate this seine but four are preferred. The design is standard in fish farming in the U.S. but is new to Uganda. The seine has a mudline and a bag. It is hung on the float and lead lines at the proper ratio so the net maintains the depth needed and rides in the water. Tilapia normally jump over a net when trapped in the seine but few losses to jumping are incurred when

Uganda Ltd. (Entebbe) began shipping small amounts of catfish with its other fish products to Democratic Republic of Congo. Ugachick began filleting and selling at its branch in Old Kampala, after which it switched to sales to supermarkets and restaurants. Both processors received a large amount of assistance from FISH in sourcing the fish and transport to the processor. Ugachicks staff was instructed in filleting techniques and packaging. Ugachick also received several days of marketing assistance. In March 2008, Pearl Processors (Entebbe) resumed buying catfish as well. Although most farmers opted for local sales because they could get higher prices by selling retail, the larger producers were very much encouraged by the option to sell large amounts (500 kg and more) at a time to a processor. As some of the farms got ready to market their production, FISH offered assistance in the form of transport and harvesting. Any farmer who attended FISH trainings and implemented the record-keeping and sales reporting requested by FISH was given at least one day of harvesting and transport assistance using the FISH seine and transport tank. Later, the fish farmers group, WAFICOS, took on this service to their members at a fee. Although most fish farms were designed and built prior to FISH, new farmers were advised to provide easy vehicle access to ponds to facilitate fish loading and transport. As farmers developed confidence, learned to predict their production, and could assure a steady supply of fish, they began to develop their own markets for their specific circumstances. Certain individuals with good marketing skills often sourced fish from neighboring farmers as their markets expanded.

by FISH and loaned out to farmers.

Tilapia prices were often higher on farm or near-farm, so selling to a processor was not advised. Catfish is a new product for processors and no work could be done on developing export markets in the region until sufficient tonnage of catfish were available. Even now, the processors are having a hard time finding the fish they need. Once again, it is clear that production must increase in increments as processors begin developing their markets.

As farmers get to know their real production costs, they can set their prices to be more competitive. Food fish were most frequently sold by the piece, either whole or gutted but sometimes gutted and smoked. Selling by piece is convenient and also tends to be more profitable. However, farmers had to be shown how to calculate back to the live weight equivalent so they could compare their prices with their production costs. All farmers wishing to go commercial need to understand how to alternate between per piece and per kg pricing.

Holding cages: As cage-making was taught, the farmers realized they could hold fish alive in cages for short intervals of 1 to 2 days while they await a buyer. The small and moveable cage design with cover is very appropriate for holding fish overnight. Stiff cages made from PVC-coated galvanized wire mesh were also introduced. Although the wire material is not found in Uganda, something similar can be obtained and the design can be duplicated. It was now possible to hold a ton of fish in a container still in the pond and sell from there. Farmers were able to harvest before the buyer arrived. Fish baskets, scoop nets, and other aids have also been quickly adopted because they improve the efficiency of moving large amounts of fish.

The commercial fish farm seine only needs to be pulled by two people because the mudline prevents the net from sinking too deeply into the mud. Seine making and techniques in seining ponds were popular training subjects in FISH field demonstrations. FTI later included these techniques into their curriculum.

the commercial seine is used. The bag on the seine allows the workers to separate out the fish they need or to take part of the fish out in smaller baskets all the while keeping all of the fish alive in the seine. Other technology advancements were local fabrication of holding cages, portable holding tanks, heavy duty dip nets, and fish transport containers that were designed for easy removal of fish. Towards the end of 2007, two companies began processing catfish to test on domestic and regional markets. Greenfields

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33

Spotlight On Success
Pure FIsh
In rural areas, and increasingly in urban markets, Nile perch frames, shown at right, are taking an increasing part of the market share because whole fish have become too expensive. Farmraised fish are competing with the fish frames (bottom, right) in rural markets. Blessed Investments, one of the demonstration farms, began weekly sales of its fish in Mityana town. The farm advertises Pure Fish, meaning that there is actually flesh on the bones. The holding cage previously mentioned has been a tremendous help in holding fish throughout the week. The farmer put a cool box on back of a bicycle for daily sales. This allows for frequent local sales. Now that I have steady income, I can do a lot more with my farm.

Market Constraints
From a survey conducted at the end of the project, the following are farmers general views about the market. All farmers mentioned there was a market for farmed fish. There were, however, a number of constraints they faced that affected their ability to market their products.

portation. For the hatcheries, the issue also included having the right tools and equipment for live fish. Transportation was cited as a constraint by mainly grow-out farmers to take fish to market and bring stocking material. Most hatchery operators sold their fish off the farm. Only one of those interviewed mentioned it with respect to the tools required for live fish transportation. Tools and Equipment (50%) Not having nets or being in a position to borrow or hire them when required affected marketing in that farmers were not able to harvest for sale when the market demanded fish. Additionally, having facilities such as cages to hold fish for sale for short periods would improve their relations with the market. Tools and equipment for live fish haulage were also a constraint for hatcheries and farmers groups. Having no nets also affected management as farmers they were unable to sample their ponds, so, were also not in position to affirm with the market exactly what sizes of fish they had at hand. Sometimes farmers thought they had big fish because they had reared the fish for a while, but when the marketer came to the farm and they harvested, the sizes would be disappointing. Disappointed large customers often never returned. Low Prices (27%) Some thought prices were too low. However, for most of those who did, it was associated with the fact that they were unable to produce the right quality for the market or access better markets. Small producers also expected very high profit margins, otherwise total net income would be insufficient from their small operations. Some farmers were trying to recover extremely high investment costs because they had received poor advice regarding construction and stocking.

Table 7. Prices Paid Per kg Live Weight Fish by Processors

Year
2005 2006 2007 2008

Catfish
1,100-1,500* No purchases Few purchases at 2,000 2,500-3,000*

Tilapia
1,500 1,500-1,800* 2,000 2,800-3,000*

*Higher price would be if the fish were delivered to the processor. Retail sales fetch 25 to 50 percent higher prices than sales to processors.

Mr. Alex Turihohabwe Adopter and Trial Farmer Mityana District

Lack of Adequate Production (67%) Farmers mentioned that part of the problem was that there were not producing the quantities demanded by the market. For some, this was further augmented by their inability to produce the right quality (size), which they came to realize was because of the poor production techniques and feed that they previously used. Transportation (50%) Access to transport to take their products to larger markets where they could fetch better prices was a problem. This was associated to the farm location in relation to major transport routes where one could easily access public transport. The cost of hiring boda-bodas and pick-ups for small rural farmers was considered also high. The high costs of transportation are also associated with the volumes of fish farmers are able to take to the market each time. Small quantities do not warrant the hire of trans-

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35

Spotlight On Success
Challenges
Poor farm design, few ponds, and small farm size limit the ability to conduct weekly fish sales. A short description of how to make and manage a small farm for weekly sales and home consumption was outlined for the case of catfish. The user must indicate the weekly market amount and the pond size, and the total investment required will be given (see Procedings, Second Fish Farmers Symposium). As prices fluctuate, this table can be easily adjusted. The plan is useful for farmers who are in rural areas where the market can absorb small amounts of fish weekly. For larger cities, a drop-off point and schedule can work for a group of fish farmers. This was attempted with WAFICOS. However, to cover transport costs, the sales should be above 200 kg per day. If the farmers group does not have sufficient means to provide fish daily, it can begin with a weekly sales day. Each farm would then be assigned its day to harvest and the fish will be transported to the groups vending point. Fish cleaning facilities and a small chest freezer will help.
Table fish from farms was sold from the pond bank (33 percent), at supermarkets (13 percent), to processors (60 persent), at markets in local trading centers (40 percent), to restaurants (33 percent), and to bicycle vendiors (33 percent). Bicycle vending included the farmers selling the fish themselves as well as sales to fishmongers. Half of the people whose sales were done by bicycle vending were farmers doing it for themselves.

critical when fish were fed on offals from poultry processors. The fish cannot even be smoked because it is too fatty. After witnessing the problem, FISH advised farmers to cease feeding the offals one month before marketing their catfish. During that month, the fish might lose a bit of weight but they live off the fat they have stored and the meat quality is much improved. A quality and flavor check would help a vendor decide before making plans to buy a particular load of fish. This technique is used in commercial catfish farming in the U.S. and elsewhere. Therefore, both processors and farmers could benefit from additional training in quality control before the fish arrives at the processor. FISH did not have sufficient time to address this issue.
Mrs. Rhona Buwulwe Adopter and Trial Farmer Bira, Wakiso District

My husband and I started fish farming in January 2006. I have four ponds whose total surface area is about 900 m2. We also have poultry on our small farm. My husband and I decided to go into fish farming because we believed the demand for fish was high and we needed to supplement our income. We visited a number of farmers and felt encouraged. After constructing the ponds, we got them stocked with tilapia fingerlings. The fish grew well for a while, but after some time the performance was not so promising. Among the issues we found challenging was getting the right feeds for the fish. Initially, we used poultry feed too. We got a good market for our fish, but, because our production was not good in the sense that we were failing to get a good proportion of the fish to marketable size within a specified time, we could not sustain or build up a market. After a while we started becoming discouraged. At this point in time we heard about the USAID FISH project and attended a number of the training sessions. We also visited a couple of farms with them while on their regular field work. The information we obtained from the project really helped us transform our operations. The skills I have gained in pond construction, knowledge regarding stocking rates vis--vis ones carrying capacity, pond dynamics and managing pond fertility, fish handling, inventory control, feeding fish, feed conversion ratios inclusive of the record keeping, have given me the ability to manage my farm and achieve optimum yields from my farm. Being able to access fish feed has really made a difference too. The skills gained have been practical and take into consideration the constraints we face, such as overcoming the periods when

there are no fish feeds on the market. The fish in my 450 m2 pond are almost ready for sale. What really makes me happy is that ALL the fish are about the same size (at the last sampling, 380 g; market wants from 400 g fish). I filleted a sample, which gave me a goodsized fillet which means more money for me. In addition to growing fish, I have learned more about marketing fish and adding value to fish products. The project trained me in smoking catfish and making fillets. Now I have an additional business. I buy catfish from other farmers and sell fresh and frozen catfish fillets as well as whole and smoked catfish fillets. My business is doing well and growing. Since I started it in May 2008, I have processed more than 500 kg in six months, which for a small, literally new, business bringing a brand new product into the market I think is good. I have been able to obtain and apply all this knowledge because of the manner in which the project disseminated the information. The staff actually worked with the farmers and for the farmers right through the way, including finding markets and selling fish. Few trained professionals would do that with a farmer. Now I am a happy farmer and know that, even though this project has ended, my aquaculture businesses shall continue to grow. The project transformed me into a successful, small commercial fish farmer.

The processors have concluded that they may have to run their own production farms or work through a few reliable contract farmers. If that develops, it would set the stage for EU approval for farm-raised fish, although at this time, the absence of the EU market is not a major impediment to catfish marketing. Quality of the flesh of catfish can be highly variable depending on the protein and fat content of the feed. Catfish fed on a low protein/high fat diet build up huge amounts of fat in the viscera and in the muscle. The problem becomes

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37

Improving Policy
The settling pond at SoN Fish Farm. Fish farmers are advised to make settling ponds to receive the effluent from their production ponds or to pass the fertile water through agricultural plots or wetlands.

Although an enabling policy was initially set to the side as not being under the FISH activities, and, therefore, no indicators were made, it turns out that FISH did make serious efforts to address some of the government policies that fish farmers found the most problematic. In the case of cage culture, the FISH trial cage activities provided the impetus to NEMA and the Water Resources Management Department to begin working out permitting processes. One of the first FISH activities was to make a list of permits required by fish farmers and list the offices and addresses where the permits could be found. These are presented in all of the training manuals. In addition, a presentation on required permits for aquaculture was included in both of the fish farmers symposia. As part of its partnership with farmers, FISH attempted to make the farmers needs and concerns understood by government, as well as help the farmers understand that certain rules were necessary and indeed could be very helpful.

Achievements
The following policy issues were addressed.
Uganda Fishnet Manufacturers has begun making the commercial fish farm seine. Finished seines can be ordered according to the length needed.

1.

Fish feeds The FISH Chief of Party was asked to provide input regarding fish feeds for the draft National Animal Feeds Bill. This bill has apparently not yet been presented to parliament. However, FISH did contribute a section on fish feed quality. As opposed to setting protein levels, FISH recommended truth in labeling and proposed what qualities should be listed on the label. Import duties on aquaculture inputs Agricultural equipment and supplies are allowed to be imported duty free.

However, many fish farmers reported that they could not get duty exemption on their imports. Beginning in 2005 and annually thereafter, FISH submitted a list of typical aquaculture supplies and equipment to various governmental agencies including DFR Aquaculture Unit, Ministry of Finance and Uganda Investment Authority (UIA). In most cases, the reaction was: Getting these things in duty free should not be a problem. However, the problem remained. A test-case was made to examine how larval diet for catfish could be imported duty free. The FISH operations manager was able to obtain a clear, written explanation of why the customs duties were currently levied on the fish feed: If imported for a particular farm, it can be free of duty; if imported by a vendor for eventual sale to farms, it will be charged duty. For other fish farming supplies, it would be similar. Therefore, farmers are advised to register their farms as companies, make their purchases themselves, and seek advice and assistance from the UIA. For small farmers, this is not an option. However, a strong fish farmers group would possibly be able to import supplies for the fish farmers in this way. The main impediment is that the farmers would have to pay for the feed or supplies in advance, not as they use it, and they would need to ship an entire container. 3. Use of sex reversal hormone One of the main methods used for producing all-male tilapia seed is to feed newly hatched fry with very small doses of methyl-testosterone for their first 28 days. This method is used in all commercial tilapia-producing countries. Farmers wanted to use the

How can the Government of Uganda (GOU) contribute to development of a successful aquaculture industry? Strongly consider passing the Feed Bill that has been tabled since 2000. Continue improving rural roads. This is a major impediment to marketing fish and transport of feeds and necessary feed ingredients. The GOU already recognizes the problem and is taking steps for road improvement throughout the country. Consider changes to the roles of Fisheries Officers. Regulatory and advisory roles of Fisheries Officers are conflicting and lead to a lack of trust among the public. These roles should be held separately between those providing advisory services and those regulating the industries. If Fisheries Officers are to provide aquaculture advisory services, they should receive adequate training and be certified with regular renewal of certification. Revise and streamline aquaculture rules after considering the concerns of various fish farmer groups and ensure their passage by Parliament.

hormone for their own tilapia hatchery operations, and FISH therefore assisted in making it possible within the legal framework. The FISH pond and hatchery advisor, Dr. Nelly Isyagi, contacted the National Drug Authority (NDA) to begin the process of approving a request by SoN Fish Farm for the importation of the drug. Approval has since been given for importation. With the assistance of Dr. Isyagi, the NDA has set out guidelines for importation and use of methyl-testosterone in production of all-male tilapia fry. Dr. Isyagi now sits on the NDA committee and advises on fish matters. The NDA will next consider the drugs to approve for use on food fish. 4. Seine material Fish farmers use nets of smaller mesh than the legal limit for gill net fishery on the lakes. Farmers wishing to purchase netting for scoop nets or seines are required to obtain a permit from the DFR and present it at Uganda Fishnet Manufacturers. This forces fish farmers to go through additional expense without really affecting enforcement of fishing gear restrictions. Approval was given by the Minister of Fisheries for fish farmers to purchase ready-made seines and cages from Uganda Fishnet Manufacturing (UFM) without obtaining a permit. The FISH cage and marketing advisor Rashid Asiimwe, therefore, instructed UFM staff on seine- and cage-making techniques. UFM also keeps records of customers who purchase seines and cages. However, this approval is not in writing and the aquaculture rules state that a permit must be obtained for bulk

netting materials but does not specify for ready-made. The intention of the rule is to prevent fishers from buying undersized gill net mesh. However, fish farming seines are very heavy duty and are therefore much too expensive for fishers to purchase. The rule as it stands does nothing to prevent vendors of imported netting from selling undersize mesh and these vendors operate uncontrolled. 5. The Aquaculture Rules Upon review of the permits proposed in the aquaculture rules of 2003, it became apparent that the permits required were extremely burdensome and abiding by the rules would be near impossible. For example, a fish farmer needs to obtain a permit every time fish are transported off the farm. Many hatcheries sell their products almost daily and obtaining permits for daily transactions would be costly and timeconsuming. Some catfish hatcheries are required to have five different permits from the DFR alone, in addition to water discharge and other permits. Annual dialogues were sponsored by FISH to provide farmers with a means of informing the DFR of the problems associated with the rules. However, the rules were never officially adopted by the government. FISH sponsored a meeting on 12 April 2006 at Kajjansi ARDC, in which farmers responded to the aquaculture rules and DFR Aquaculture Unit representatives were present. The second and third occasions were during the Fish Farmers Symposia of 2007 and 2008. Although several areas for improvement were suggested, no changes have been made; the reason given that the rules are not enforced

2.

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Improving Policy

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Strategic Activities Fund

How can the Government of Uganda (GOU) contribute to development of a successful aquaculture industry? Avoid conflicts of interest by enforcing rules regarding consulting by government employees. Work with farmers and farmer groups to implement collection of statistics to ensure accurate and timely information that will be useful for planning. Maintain a strong environmental protection agency (NEMA) to ensure that best management practices are followed by fish farms. Provide accurate and reliable information regarding the economic viability of fish farming to potential investors and local farmers. Harmonize fish farming recommendations coming from ARDC Kajjansi and other NARO offices. Streamline the procedures for duty-free importation of aquaculture supplies. Cost-share with the private sector on the selective breeding programs, not by duplicating, but by funding a collaborative research grant with a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that outlines responsibility of government and the private farm. Any improvements on the land tenure and property title system will also facilitate aquaculture investment.

anyway, so why worry? In comparison, the water permit rules are clear and possible to follow as well as providing some protection to the farmers. 6. Cage culture Cage culture was not illegal but there was some misunderstood information on the agreement of the Council of Ministers to allow cage fish farming in Lake Victoria. The stakeholders meeting held in October 2008 specifically addressed cage culture in Lake Victoria and publically announced that responsible aquaculture should be practiced in Lake Victoria. FISH, in collaboration with NaFIRRI, was able to obtain permits for its cage culture demonstrations from the DFR, from NEMA, and is still waiting for the permit from the Water Resources Department for its cage trials. Guidance was provided to a farmers group from Jinja and their permits have been provided, although they have yet to pay for the water permit. Because of the FISH cage trials, the issue of permits for cages has come to the surface and is being addressed by the appropriate authorities. The DFR, NEMA, and WRMD seem to have a good understanding of cage culture and are proceeding cautiously with permitting. The only item left is to address the issue of security that was brought up in the cage culture meeting with prospective investors in Entebbe on 19 March 2007.

to submit the Animal Feeds Bill, which has been on the table since 2000. This should protect people from unscrupulous feed makers. However, some effort must be made to identify the best proximate analysis labs for checking the feeds as government chemist labs has not proven reliable. More effort must be made to help improve the Aquaculture Rules, so they serve the needs of the government without imposing impossible restrictions on farmers. The explanation that the rules will not be enforced is insufficient. Uganda needs some rules that allow fish farmers to sell all sizes of fish and to purchase the gear and feed they need at reasonable prices. Although quality assurance is important. and will be required for EU certification of aquaculture products, burdensome rules will quash aquaculture development. The new Aquaculture Plan that is scheduled to follow the Aquaculture Strategy needs to address the role of the Fishery Officers, and the role of NaFIRRI in the light of the numerous private service providers and consultants that are in Uganda. Beginning fish farmers will only benefit from advisors that have actually practiced fish farming for profit. Successful fish farmers are the best judge of information sources and should be the source of any advisor certification program. Another cage culture consultative workshop should be held with DFR, NEMA, WRMD, UIA, all cage farmers, and interested investors to review progress in permitting processes and any needed actions. Security assurance and rights of cage owners should be discussed. Water quality monitoring and review of water quality data should also be addressed.

A critical mass of commercial fish farms is needed before investment in a fish feed mill can be justified. However, a critical mass cannot be obtained until quality fish feed is available. FISH Strategic Activities Fund was used to break this bottleneck.

The Strategic Activities Fund (SAF) was launched in 2006 but proposals had been submitted to FISH from June 2005. Most of the concepts and proposals were centered around the development of demonstration farms that would be entirely paid with USAID funds. None of these proposals identified adequate technical advisors because there were none. It was clear to FISH that such farms would not demonstrate anything but total dependence on donors. More specifically, sectoral assistance in terms of training services, feed-making, and equipment supply were needed. From more than 60 concept submissions, a total of 11 proposals were invited. Some proposals, although useful, were given low priority as long as the feed supply problem was not solved. After several failed attempts to secure outside funding for the extrusion equipment, a decision was made to put a large amount of the SAF funds into the partial purchase of extrusion equipment to be located at Ugachick Poultry Breeders, Ltd. A total of seven proposals were approved by USAID; all of them in 2008. The SAF manager, Mr. James Sekatawa, guided the applicants to fulfill their obligations under the terms stated in the SAF operation manual and to fill in their application forms. However, it took most of the applicants a rather long time to assemble all of the needed documents. The SAF grants were implemented and results prior to the end of project were promising but the real results will only come in 2009-10. Annex 6 gives a complete list of SAF grants and their status in November 2008. FISH used more than the SAF allocation to assist the private sector. Equipment was purchased to demonstrate on fish farms, feed was imported, and other equip-

ment and feed were made in Uganda to be used on fish farms, all using the normal FISH operating funds. Aeration devices and pond construction equipment were developed with the engineers at AEATREC (the NARO agricultural engineering station) and with FISH operating funds. Often, new products for the fish farming sector were commissioned by FISH, then purchased and loaned to fish farmers for trial and demonstration. In return, the farmers collected performance data and economic data that allowed FISH to evaluate the items and help make improvements. In the meantime, farmers could make the decision to purchase more of the product. This is how the first feed made by Ugachick came to the market, and how several other enterprises got their start. SoN Fish Farm began making feed in February 2008. The SAF helped the farm get more equipment to increase their output of fry and fingerling feeds. Feeds for young fish must contain higher amounts of protein than for older fish and they need to be of smaller particle size. For this reason, they are considered specialty feeds. The total demand is not very high and large companies often do not wish to manufacture these feeds because it interrupts their production. From February to July, SoN farm sold only 90 kgs of feed to other farmers, the first sale being to FISH to hand out as samples to other farmers. From August until 23 October, feed sales increased to 2.5 tons. The feed from SoN farm helped many farmers during the time that Ugachicks machinery was down. From February through July 2008, the number of sex-reversed tilapia (SRT) fry sold to other farmers was 94,500. After SAF assistance began, the

Sampling cages with a cast net.

Remaining Opportunities
The Animal Feeds Bill should be reviewed with regard to fish feeds. FISH was not able to obtain the final draft of the bill. If the portion on fish feeds is determined to be sufficient, then some effort must be made

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Project Monitoring and Evaluation

number of SRT fry sold jumped to 231,000 (August-October 2008). The fry were sold to fish farms throughout Uganda, which, in turn, grew them on to sell as fingerlings to other farmers, thus creating new nursery enterprises. SoN provided the reports on feed and seed sales and did show the anticipated results (verified by FISH) but purchased most of its equipment after November 2008. WAFICOS (Walimi Fish Cooperative Society) was provided a grant for pond construction equipment and fish harvesting and transport gear to hire out to their members and for technical advisory services. Paid membership increased from 36 to 113 in just six months. Some of the larger producers, such as SoN Fish Farm, Interfish, and Sunfish Farms, have indicated they will join because the society now has the equipment that can be hired for pond construction, fish transport, and water quality analyses. This society may evolve into a national fish farmers society. However, WAFICOS still lacks the services of an experienced field advisor who can help train farmers, record production, and assist in programming marketing. The first advisor hired was not sufficiently experienced and ended up just using the WAFICOS office to gather his own consulting clients. His services were discontinued after one month. The society still depends considerably on services of former FISH staff, including the drivers for fish harvesting and transport services and the technical advisors. FTI received funds to implement the internship program, improve the training levels of its aquaculture instructors, and to equip a teaching hatchery on its premises. The program began late and internships were only funded for four months. The instructors did attend several training sessions and have greatly improved their experience and understanding. The training notes from FISH have become an integral part of the FTI training curriculum. They started with 18 interns assigned (12 males, 6 female; three farms did not follow through on their part of the agreement so the interns were re-assigned). Three interns were dismissed before finishing the program, leaving 16 to finish: 11 male, 4 female. The FTI teaching hatchery was delayed due to some problems with the contractors who built the tanks (not part of the SAF funding). Umoja Fish Farm hosted several training programs and maintains a good set of training aids such as a slide projector, white boards, etc. The farms owner has moved away to accompany her husband on assignment, but the farm continues to function under management of a former FISH-funded intern. Residential training for catfish hatchery is still available and the farm is being used as a training site. As described in the section on feeds, a grant of $220,000 was provided to Ugachick Poultry Breeders, Ltd. for the purchase of equipment for making floating fish feed: a pre-conditioner unit, an extruder, and a dryer. The remaining equipment such as fine grinder, steam boiler, fines separator, and all shipping was paid by Ugachick. Ugachick also decided to purchase additional equipment to improve the production of its poultry feeds, to roast soy for the inclusion in feeds and to improve its grain storage and drying capacity. Ugachicks investment totals more than $1 million USD. A new fish feed plant would cost $5 to 10 million.
A worker at Uganda Fishnet manufacturers repairs flaws in a piece of seine netting before it is sold. This factory, located in Kampala, is the only functioning fish net factory in Eastern Africa. It employs more than 200 workers, most of whom are women.

FISH used a large portion of its operating funds in the field to provide training and technical assistance, to make the initial purchase of new technologies from abroad and made in Uganda, and to import four containers of floating fish feed for demonstrations on farms. The SAF was used to render further assistance to develop the sectors of feed manufacture, seed supply, information access and training services.

Gathering production data from farmers is often expensive and time-consuming. The fisheries officers working under MAAIF admit that they do not have the resources to gather data on pond productions so they rely on an estimate based on perceived total surface area of ponds and an assumed productive capacity that is ten times higher than what has been observed in the field. More than 50 percent of existing ponds are not stocked in some districts and should not be included in estimates. It is, therefore, extremely difficult and highly misleading for a project to use MAAIF fish farming statistics for any type of planning and evaluation. FISH had to set up its own reporting and, as such, its statistics cannot be compared with numbers sourced from MAAIF. Currently, only verifiable data are reported and therefore many impacts of the project go unreported. For example, in order to document adoption of technology by farmers other than demonstration farmers, a huge number of farm visits are required throughout the country. A project technical staff of three does not allow for such visits. The FISH team received reports that the training notes have been spread throughout the country but could not actually document the spread. At the end of 2006, the fish farm sales and inventory report forms were developed using the US Department of Agriculture catfish sales and inventory report forms from the southeastern U.S. as a model. These reports allowed FISH to track many of the indicators. In order to encourage farmers to provide the reports, FISH tried to make it easy for them and allowed call-ins (on FISH phone time), provided assistance to advisors on filling in the reports, and finally only allowed

reporting farmers into the more selective training sessions. Following the model of USDA, FISH also provided the summary report to the farmers who had sales and gave them an annual summary for their own farm. One farmer noted a management problem on his farm based upon the reports and was able to make changes before his losses became very large. The FISH team regularly accessed the sales and inventory reports to identify suppliers when buyers would call. A total of 58 farms supplied reports although some did so on an annual, instead of the requested quarterly, basis; others preferred monthly. The 2007 and 2008 annual summaries of sales for reporting farmers are presented in annexes 2 and 3, respectively. One of the best indicators, however, and the easiest to track is the sale of fish feed. In one year, the production and sale of fish feed has quadrupled. Annex 8 presents a discussion of the indicators used in the performance management plan of FISH and the targets. A table summarizing the annual performance follows. Some adjustments were made to the indicators and more could have been made to make the FISH indicators more compatible with the definitions of the SO7 annual performance indicators and the Initiative to End Hunger in Africa (IEHA) reports. Specifically, the IEHA format can be better adapted to fish farming, without reducing its applicability to crops and other animal products. It was only after review with the very helpful Uganda Monitoring and Evaluation Service (UMEMS) office in August 2008 that fewer and better indicators were suggested, but this was too late.

If FISH had been required to allocate SAF funds in its first year, several mistakes would have been made. However, in waiting 2 years, very little time remained to implement the activities. Impact will be most apparent in 2009 and 2010.

Three instructors from FTI received special training before they began supervising the second set of interns through the grant received under the SAF.

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Project Monitoring and Evaluation

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Administration and Staffing

For a small project, having four different annual reporting formats diverts effort from other project activities. Therefore FISH was able to submit the USAID Uganda performance reports (previously known as the OP report), the microenterprise results reports (MRR), and the IEHA reports on time but was late submitting the projects own set of performance indicators. If FISH were continued, the services of UMEMS would have been requested for much more of the reporting and indicators would be adjusted as USAID adjusted its own. The USAID policy to annually audit indicator data is exemplary. If the various government services in Uganda could be introduced to these monitoring and evaluation methods, as many NGOs and private consultants are, government statistics would be more dependable. This was a small project that was faced with the same reporting and administrative needs as a large project. This meant that the chief of party (CoP) who was the lead technical person was often pulled away from technical matters to spend time on administration. The problem became most apparent towards the end of FISH when it was clear the CoP had to do more training but could not. This was why it was recommended to include fish farming into the larger agriculture development project as was done for the LEAD project. There is, however, a danger that fish farming will be side-lined and its special needs will be ignored. However, the greater danger is that a larger project will be led into believing that fish farming is widely understood by people and specialized technical help is not required. There are very few in Uganda who have actually been involved in growing fish for profit but very many who believe themselves to be qualified to advise farmers. The reason why FISH was able to achieve so much in such a short time was the involvement of the fish farmers. They were involved in the selection of the technical staff. The farmers pushed for the training sessions. The farmers told the team what problems they were encountering. The FISH team worked with farmers on their farms. Though, not very many farms could be reached this way, it created a group of people with real knowledge (information plus experience). Knowledge does not leave at the end of a project and cannot be taken away.
Nelly Isyagi

only one Ugandan staff member had ever worked for a USAID contractor before. Staff originated from all over Uganda: Tororo, Teso, Kaberamaido, Hoima, Gulu, Jinja, and Entebbe.
Staff Summary

Happas (net enclosures) are used to raise the tilapia fry at SoN Fish Farm, Ltd., which are then sold to outgrowers who grow the fish to fingerling fize to seel to production farmers.

Chief of Party and lead technical advisor: Karen Veverica; June 2005-Nov. 2008 Pond and hatchery advisor: Dr. Nelly Ajangale Isyagi, DVM; Sept. 2005-Nov. 2008 Cage and marketing advisor: Rashid Asiimwe; Aug. 2005-Nov. 2008 Operations managers: John Sseyanga; Aug. 2005-Aug. 2006 (deceased); James Sekatawa; Nov. 2006Nov. 2008 Assistant operations managers: Benjamin Okurut Nov 2005-Oct 2007 (resigned); Joseph Aruma: Dec. 2007Sept. 2008 Drivers: Sonko Ayub(deceased); Moses Mukembo, David Edadu, and Omara Altilio (Tony)

Karen Veverica

Dr Nelly, second from left, encouraged staff of many tertiary learning institutions to develop their field expertise.

FISH staff, although few, worked on multiple tasks. The drivers became adept at live fish transport, cage-making, and fish harvesting. It should be noted that

Rashid Asiimwe

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Administration and Staffing

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Institutional Linkages
Although its main partners were private farmers, FISH had two institutional partners: Makerere University and the National Fisheries Resources Research Institute, FISH for their courses and thesis work. The students involved and their subject matter are presented in Table 7. In addition, Makerere University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine proximate analysis laboratory was funded to perform analyses of feed ingredients and fish feeds manufactured in Uganda. Two other laboratories were used for some feed analyses and samples were also shipped out of the country for comparisons. It was concluded that of the three Uganda labs, the Makerere Veterinary Medicine lab came closest to the U.S. lab in results, but it still had problems with protein and fiber analyses. Improvements were made following advice from Dr. Allen Davis and the crude protein levels reported by the lab became more reliable. The other two labs were not reliable. However, the Makerere lab needs continuous oversight and it still underestimates fiber levels. Recently, the laboratory in Food Sciences has been used for proximate analysis of feed ingredients. Any laboratory that does proximate analysis on animal feeds should implement quality controls and use standards. The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine worked with FISH to hold trainings in fish health and, consequently, enhanced its expertise in diagnostics, but needs more experience. The Veterinary School seems to have upgraded its aquaculture curriculum to include greater emphasis on field experience than it had before, thanks to the farmer contacts developed through FISH. The Zoology department also teaches aquaculture, but its curriculum should be revised to enhance the quality of its graduates to meet industry standards. The seminars presented for students and faculty by visiting short-term technical assistants (Annex 7) were also extremely valuable. Many faculty members have expressed the desire for a separate Fisheries and Aquaculture department at Makerere University. However, the discipline remains split in the Veterinary School and in the Zoology department. Students who graduate with a degree in Fisheries from Makerere University lack practical experience and therefore have very limited opportunities for employment in the private sector. Therefore, most either become Fishery Officers or attempt to do consulting work, which leads to the problems described in the section on advisory services. The second, Evaluation of fish farming information for commercial fish farmers (September 2008, 29 pages), was finished too late for action, but the findings are considered in the recommendations listed in the conclusions of this report. The directors of NaFIRRI and of ARDC Kajjansi provided guidance and advice to FISH. Several ARDC staff and researchers frequently attended FISH seminars. The water quality labs at NaFIRRI, Jinja, began sampling at the cage trial site at Bugungu in 2008, with funding from FISH. They will continue this service for new cage sites if requested. ARDC Kajjansi began a long-planned facility reconstruction program in 2008. Prior to that, FISH provided dozens of hours of advising to the engineering company that made the plan for the renovation of Kajjansi station (CanFish) at no charge. In addition, FISH held a seminar on pond construction for engineers, specifically to promote sound construction principles for the renovations. Research in aquaculture is not a key constraint because the techniques for commercial production of tilapia and clarias are known and widely practiced elsewhere in the world. In fact, many Ugandans have benefitted from study tours and training programs conducted in other countries and funded through various donors. However, an active and up-to-date research program, especially conducted with farmer participation, can enhance the experience base of researchers and facilitate technology transfer, thus assisting NaFIRRI to fulfill its mission. Although several improvements were made to Makereres and NaFIRRIs ability to address fish farming questions, the more

Table 7. FISH-funded Students

Student Name
1. Idi Muzige

Subject of Research

Status of Work

Fishers Issues in Jinja Area Thesis completed in 2008 Finished research in Sept 2007; submitted draft thesis in early 2008 and died in May 2008 Thesis completed in 2008

2. David Patrick Kadobera Comparison of sinking and floating feeds in low-volume high-density cages at Garuga, Lake Victoria 3. Moses Mwesigwa Economic Analysis and Marketing of Fish products: Data was collected from fish farms, fishermen, etc. Factors Affecting Fish Health in Catfish Hatcheries

Research officers at AEATREC, the agricultural engineering branch of NARO, located in Namalere, began working with FISH to learn pond construction and continued partnering for the development of aeration devices and some additional pond construction aides such as the sheepsfoot packer for compacting earthen dams using a small walkbehind tractor.

NaFIRRI
As the fisheries and aquaculture branch of NARO, NaFIRRI should be the institution that tests and develops aquaculture technology packages, hence is an important partner. Offices for FISH were provided at NaFIRRIs Kajjansi Aquaculture Research and Development Center (ARDC) as well as at the main Jinja office. The conference rooms at both sites were valuable assets and used frequently for training sessions, steering committee meetings, and consultative workshops. The FISH project paid for Internet improvements at both Jinja and Kajjansi, security service at both locations, and supported grounds and pond maintenance at Kajjansi. FISH contributions funded two studies that were conducted under the leadership of Ms. Gertrude Atukunda. The first, entitled Summary of observations/remarks by socioeconomist during field work in Iganga, led to the placement of Mr. Emma Mbulamberi as a full-time advisor in Iganga for 1 year.

4. Andrew Tamale, DVM

Thesis completed in 2008

FISH Success Improved professional capabilities to handle the challenges associated with a commercial industry by training engineers on fish farm construction and veterinary services on preventive health management and clinical techniques. Quality control procedures were set up within feed mills and in the proximate analysis laboratory at Makerere University.

(NaFIRRI), under NARO, the National Agriculture Research Organization. NaFIRRI provided the FISH office space, both in Kajjansi and Jinja. The Agricultural Engineering and Appropriate Technology Research Center, (AEATREC, also under NARO), collaborated with FISH in the development of aeration devices and pond construction equipment.

Makerere University
Several departments at Makerere University were involved in FISH: Zoology, Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Gender Studies, and Rural Sociology. Towards the end of 2008, the Agricultural Engineering department also participated in the Pond Construction for Engineers workshop. Four students were funded by

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Institutional Linkages

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than $50,000 spent on local professional allowances for professors should have instead been used to fund small, distinct trials to be carried out in response to particular subjects proposed by farmers and further elaborated by FISH. Each trial would be mentored through the respective professor at Auburn University, in collaboration with a Makerere University or a NaFIRRI researcher. In February 2009, a proposal for collaborative research including Kajjansi ARDC and the Makerere University departments of Agribusiness, Agricultural Engineering, and Extension was submitted by Auburn University, University of Georgia, and Alabama A&M University for funding under the special Africa RFP for the Aquafish CRSP: Global research, capacity building, and institutional development in aquaculture and aquatic resources management. If the proposal wins approval, the sub-agreements for ARDC Kajjansi and Makerere University will total $140,000. FISH is responsible for most of these contacts and for developing the objectives of the proposed research, entitled Hydrology, Water Harvesting, and Watershed Management for Food Security, Income, and Health: Small Impoundments for Aquaculture and Other Community Uses. farmers, fish farmers associations, and representative for fishnets, feeds, oilseeds, and the fish processors made up the participants from the private sector. Participation was slightly stronger from the private sector, but the participation overall was quite good with more than two-thirds of members attending all meetings but one. No sitting allowances were paid at any FISH meeting, including the steering committee. The steering committee meetings helped spread some information about FISH and the problems being encountered by fish farmers to other government agencies, but one-on-one visits to these agencies were much more productive. In addition, feedback from farmers and industry was an integral part of FISH from the beginning, and, therefore, a steering committee was rather redundant. A total of six steering committee meetings were held. The most valuable advice was, however, obtained from small ad-hoc groups asked to advise and act on particular issues, such as feed manufacture, fish health, and cage farming. FISH was able to give the farmers ample voice through the Fish Farmers Symposia held in 2007 and 2008 and in the project close-out meeting.

USAID
PRIME WEST, assisted some fish farmers
Remaining Opportunities While water resources are abundant, most water is in low-lying wetlands and not easily available for large-scale farms. Development of water harvesting to form reservoirs can serve as a means of storing water for agriculture and associated aquaculture. More examples of successful water harvesting strategies and associated costs and benefits will be especially useful in northern Uganda. Improvement in the types (particularly extruded products), quality, and quantity of the fish feeds available. Implementation of quality control or certification of fish seed through a fish farmer-driven or led process, rather than from government. Development of a quality control or certification program for aquaculture advisors/consultants through a fish farmer-driven or led process, rather than from government.

in Bushenyi, Kabale, Kasese, and Kisoro. In 2006, FISH agreed to provide some technical advising, held some special training sessions for the farmers, and located some oxygen meters for PRIME West to purchase to help out the hatcheries. Some of the first results on the Ugachick feed actually came from PRIME West-assisted fish farmers in Kasese.
APEP was very helpful to the FISH project by sharing information on their Strategic Activities Fund procedures, by providing forecasts of oilseed cake availability for fish feed ingredients and by helping to link buyers of fish feed ingredients (soy and sunflower) with producers and suppliers. SCOPE provided the services of the attorney Ms. Lydia Ochieng Obbo to help review the aquaculture rules in a workshop held with the Aquaculture Unit of the DFR. The Fisheries Sector Competitiveness Plan set forth by SCOPE was somewhat premature in terms of aquaculture as it was based upon the assumption that fish farmers actually had fish in their ponds and were producing thousands of tons of fish, which was not the case. SCOPE provided the venue for the Fish Feeds Forum in 2006. Other donor-funded projects

and kept the various organizations up to date on the fish farming scene. Attempts were made to include FAO and WFP in these links. FISH provided hundreds of hours of technical advising, writing, and reviewing to fish farmers and to some businesses wishing to secure grants from other agencies. Most of the proposals that received FISH assistance were for the supply of new technology such as aeration, feed mill machinery, or for technology transfer. Granting agencies included CDE (European Union), the EVD (Netherlands), DANIDA (Denmark), World Bank, Rotary International, and the African Development Foundation.

The water quality team at NaFIRRI, Jinja, began sampling at cage sites in 2007.

Steering Committee
A steering committee was named for FISH because it appeared to be a requirement by USAID. A Makerere University representative and heads of NaFIRRI offices in Jinja and Kajjansi attended all steering committee meetings as FISH partners. The government agency representatives on the steering committee were: MAAIF, the Aquaculture Unit of the DFR, NAADS, NEMA, and WRMD. Of these, WRMD was the most consistent attendee. Fish

FISH had ongoing informal collaborations with CDE, NORAD, DANIDA, and CIRAD. These amounted to technical advising on fish farming interventions, and making linkages with fish farmers and government officials concerned with fish farming. FISH functioned mainly to provide information to these agencies on fish farming investment costs and returns, constraints to fish farming development,

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Cost-Sharing and Additional Support

As part of the cost-share portion of the cooperative agreement, Auburn University provided most of the short-term technical assistance. A total of $312,797 was provided as cost-share, which exceeded the commitment of $278,915. In addition to the activities funded under the FISH cooperative agreement, Auburn University (AU) was able to complement and build upon these activities through outside funding. These included provision of travel support for Dr. Jeffery Terhune to provide disease management and diagnostic training for farmers and disease and fellowship for Ms. Sara Rademaker (MS graduate student) to work with FISH staff and farmers in disease management and hatchery training while farmers provided in-country travel and housing support. AU also supported travel by Dr. David Rouse, Department Head for Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures, to facilitate administrative support. Travel to Uganda for a team of six AU media staff was funded by AU to document FISH activities and provide videos and photos for use in FISH reports and technical manuals, which were subsequently edited by AU media staff at no added cost to FISH. AU also hosted two fish farmers during their visits to the US to evaluate US aquaculture. Through the efforts of Dr. Daniels, the oncampus coordinator for FISH, the World Aquaculture Society donated 40 boxes of publications which were shipped to Uganda for distribution to NaFIRRI and university libraries. Technical support by FISH staff also led to funding by CDE for catfish hatchery advisory services and for training technicians and extruder systems advisor to provide Ugachick Poultry Breeders, Ltd. technical assistance in operating and maintaining their newly acquired fish feed equipment. Training of farm staff and availability of technical backstopping from FISH were key factors in 2 fish farms obtaining innovation grants from DANIDA.

Women in Fish Farming: Leading by Example

Shortly before FISH began in 2005, the first female hatchery manager was hired to work at the first commercial catfish hatchery, Sunfish Farms. Dr Nelly Isyagi was instrumental in convincing the owner to try a woman. FISH provided mentorship and served as role models to many women before and during their employment. A high percentage of young women were trained under the FTI internship program, and many of them were later offered employment on fish farms. The internship program afforded farmers a means of trying out female farm workers at no financial obligation. By the end of 2008, of the 50 reporting farms, the total employed were 55 women and 179 men. Hatchery owners often asked specifically for women to hire. As percentages go, the female participation is barely 25%; however, it is a great increase from just one female three years previous. In addition, the women tend to be employed at the more skilled level, not as general farm labor. Womens participation in training events was 31% of total trainee-days. Of the 50 reporting fish farms, 8 were operated by women. In other parts of Africa, womens participation in fish farming is often limited to administrative and research jobs. In Uganda, women do it all: they are well represented in the hatcheries, have worked in pond construction, and as consulting engineers. They work in the ponds to sample and harvest; in cage culture operations on Lake Victoria, as well as the usual fish sales and processing. Uganda will be the role model for African women in fish farming, thanks to the examples and dedication of FISH, NaFIRRI, Makerere University, The Fisheries Training Institute and the women owner/operators.

Sara Rademacher, graduate student from Auburn University Fisheries spent 4 months in Uganda with FISH and on several farms. She worked in fish health management , assisted in training programs, and helped supervise students from FTI in their research projects.

diagnostic laboratories at government and Makerere University facilities. AU also provided an assistantship and fellowship to support the Masters of Science degree training in aquatic animal diseases for Mr. John Walakira (NaFIRRI-Kajjansi) under the direction of Dr. Terhune. AU provided 4-month travel support and assistantship

51

Cost-Sharing and Additional Support

Women in Fish Farming: Leading by Example

52

Farmers End-of-Project Comments

How can USAID or other donors contribute to development of a successful aquaculture industry? Develop a collaborative, coordinated strategic plan among donors to implement a focused aquaculture development program. Continue sectoral assistance for feed mills, fish gear manufacturers, and aquaculture suppliers, mostly in terms of technical advising. Expand private sector advisory services for new farmers to other areas of the country by training more advisors and promoting demonstration farms in the North, West, and East. Assist farmers in setting up marketing schemes through which they can group their produce for coordinated sales. Assist farmer groups in accessing equipment, qualified advisors, quality feed, and quality seed at favorable prices. Help small commercial fish farms develop by providing loan guarantees, but only if services of a certified advisor can be assured. Increase utilization of private sector consultants to avoid conflicts of interest associated with government employees. Encourage development of an aquaculture curriculum and a Fisheries department within newer universities, such as Gulu University or Busoga University, to produce highly qualified graduates with proven hands-on experience.

Way Forward
Commercial is less a matter of size and more a matter of management. If Uganda wishes to maintain a large proportion of its population in rural employment, then farms will always be relatively small and profits will never be great. As farm size diminishes, farming

From July through September 2008, FISH staff asked the farmers who attended training frequently what they have gotten out of the project and what they would recommend for future interventions. The major benefits to farmers from FISH were: Farmers feel they are more independent, Fish farm operations are more profitable and expanding in a clever manner, The farmers have more critical thinking and analysis of situations, and The farmers feel they are more dynamic and innovative. In short, one can say the farmers have gained confidence and income. The key technical areas where farmers feel FISH had a positive impact on their production and returns are: Pond construction that is much better and less expensive; Stocking units based on carrying capacity which saves on fingerling costs; Live fish transportation and recommended sizes at stocking, resulting in increased survival rates to harvest for grow-out farmers; Availability of commercial feeds; Feeding techniquesnotably feeding by response and using the feed charts; Water quality management techniques and recommendations; Live fish handling, which resulted in reduced mortality whenever units are sampled or harvested (both for growout and hatchery); Record keeping, analysis, and evaluation; and Recommendations even helped those farmers who could not afford feed improve their production and returns with the resources they had at hand.

Things that farmers felt that FISH should have also done: Have a wider coverage so that more farmers could have benefited from its services; and Had a component that provided inputs (notably feed, seed, nets for sampling) be it at a cost. The above critiques are excellent indications of the direction for follow-on activities. As information sources for fish farmers become more varied they will be less controlled. Users of information need to be trained in how to evaluate the information they are receiving. The only way to combat the untested and incorrect information that now floods the market is to increase the number of well-informed and experienced advisers. This will provide farmers and funding agencies with a choice. A certification program will help them make that choice but only if the certifying agency is independent of government agencies. Farmers groups are better suited to certifying advisers, as they are the end-users of the advice.

practices will need to be optimized in order to provide the farmer with sufficient income.

Fish farming in Uganda suffers from the same constraints as would any other commercial agriculture development. Poor infrastructure, land tenure problems, lack of inputs, marketing problems and lack of effective extension services are a common thread throughout the agriculture sector. These are problems that require a longterm and multi-faceted solution. USAID has endeavored to spend more than 15 years assisting agriculture development in Uganda. However, it has only recently included fish farming into the mix. Watershed management as well as expanded and improved water harvesting methods are even more important for Ugandas food security. Fish farming is often a means of generating interest in water harvesting and can add value to water reservoirs. Fisheries Investment for Sustainable Harvest, in only 3.5 years, was able to set the ground work for commercial fish farming in Uganda and has positioned Uganda in the forefront of aquaculture in the region. FISH was able to move a small group of farmers from near-subsistence to commercial level, and some larger farms from money-losing to profit-making. Several new enterprises in pond construction services, fingerling suppliers, fish processing/marketing and gear manufacture have developed. Now, it is possible to spread the effects to a much wider audience, which is exactly what the farmers have requested. Large-scale farms will develop as fish feeds become more available. Large farms can employ large numbers of workers and mid-level crew supervisors. They will likely source much of their expertise from outside Uganda, but if the university curricula are improved, Ugandans would be able to fill many of the manage-

ment posts on large fish farms. Interested investors from Norway, Israel, Costa Rica and South Africa have already sought advice from FISH on fish farming possibilities. Smaller-scale farms (there are over 15,000 fish ponds in Uganda) can also be commercially viable and a means of income generation for thousands of families. Based upon the aquaculture systems developed and tested by FISH, two economic models for small commercial fish farms, (8 cages of 6m3 each, or 8 ponds of 500m2 each) have been developed that could provide family monthly income of $75 to $250. However, these model systems must be implemented and evaluated in more districts to substantiate their sustainability and profitability and to fully develop a core commercial sector in Uganda. This expansion will require a group of welltrained advisors to identify farmers, assist them in setting up model fish farms-ponds or cages, and help them to carry out their first production cycle. In addition, access to quality feed, fingerlings and finances needs to be in place. The fingerlings are available. The feed needs some additional technical backstopping in the form of STTA for 4 trips of 2 weeks each over two years, and some locally-available technical advising and farmer training. The financial services are best provided as part of a larger agricultural lending service and need to be organized in a way that is self-sustaining. Access to finance for a well-planned and well-advised fish farm will be very beneficial to the development of commercial aquaculture. However, merely paying farmers to grow fish in the absence of sound technical advice will negate the progress FISH has made.

Umoja farm changed from pond-based food-fish production to catfish hatchery due to its water limitations. The farm uses only a small percentage of its original pond area and has begun to turn a profit.

53

Farmers End-of-Project Comments

Way Forward

54

References
Harvesting the first set of cage culture trials at Uganda Fish Packers former landing site, Lake Victoria, Jinja. Densities of 180 kg/m3 were obtained.

While only 2 well-trained advisors are currently available, there are many good candidates who, after a short, intensive training, could become qualified advisors and trainers. The training will serve to harmonize the advisors message and must include: Proper farm design and pond and cage construction/renovation; Farm planning and management, particularly (feed management, stocking, harvesting, record-keeping, and personnel management) Business planning, including cash flow analysis Provided the feed and finance sectors are adequately backstopped, the success of such an endeavor will be determined by

the choice of advisors and the quality of their training. The cost will be minimal, relative to what has been spent already in agriculture. The benefit is not only to fish farmers, but to agriculture producers who provide the feed ingredients and to regional consumers who are facing diminishing supplies of fish. A highly competitive and sustaining fish farming industry that includes large, medium and small farms, all of them profitable, will require a further investment of a relatively small amount of money- about $500,000 per year, spread over about ten years. Alternatively, a total of about $10 million over 3 years could also yield very good results but would be less likely to result in sustaining small farms.

Atukunda, G., and J.K. Walakira. 2008.

Filling the locally-made demand feeder on the cages at SoN Fish Farm, Ltd.

Evaluation of fish farming information for commercial fish farmers. NaFIRRI report. 29pp. To be available on FISH website as well as NaFIRRI.
Atukunda, G. 2007. Summary of observations/remarks by socioeconomist during field work in Iganga September 2007. NaFIRRI report. 7pp. Atukunda, G. and Mwesigwa, M.R. 2006. Am economic assessment

USAID FISH has received international attention at aquaculture society meetings without using project funds. These include the following citations.
Veverica, K., Nelly Isyagi, Justus Rutaisire, Owori Wadunde, and William Daniels. 2006. FISH: Jump-starting an

aquaculture industry in Uganda. World Aquaculture Societys Book of Abstracts AQUA 2006, Florence, Italy, May 9-13, 2006, p. 989.
Daniels, W. H., and K. L. Veverica. 2008.

of commercial fish farming in Central Uganda. IFPRI report

Molnar, Veverica, Atukunda, and Kabonesa. 2005. Fisheries Investment for

Sustainable Harvest: Results framework, performance management plan and indicator reference sheets. First printed in 2005; last revision in 2008. Available through UMEMS, 43 pages
Walekwha, P.N. 2005. Estimating de-

Challenges to developing a commercial aquaculture industry in Africa: Lessons from Uganda. World Aquaculture Societys Book of Abstracts Aquaculture 2008, Busan, Korea, May 19-23, 2008. p. 294.
Daniels, W. H., and K. L. Veverica. 2008.

The tradeshow at the Second Fish Farmers Symposium, May 2008.

mand for African Catfish as bait for Nile Perch fishery on Lake Victoria. Report of baseline survey submitted to Uganda Fish Farmers Association (UFFA) Department of Agricultural Economics & Agribusiness, Makerere University, Kampala, 38p.

FISH: A project to stimulate development of a commercial aquaculture industry in Uganda-Can it be used as a model for Africa? African Fishes and Fisheries Diversity and Utilization, 4th International Conference of the Pan African Fish and Fisheries Association (PAFFA), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, September 22-26, 2008. p. 170.
Veverica, K. L., and Nelly A. Isyagi. 2009.

All-male tilapia exhibit more uniform growth than mixed-sex tilapia, especially in the later stages of production. Initial demonstratiions used hand-sexed juveniles.

Women in Aquaculture Development. World Aquaculture Societys Book of Abstracts Aquaculture 2009, Vera Cruz, Mexico, Sept. 25-30, 2009.
Veverica, K. L., N. Isyagi, W. Daniels, and R. Asiimwe. 2009. Planning a small aqua-

culture business based upon rural markets in Uganda. World Aquaculture Societys Book of Abstracts Aquaculture 2009, Vera Cruz, Mexico, Sept. 25-30, 2009.

55

Way Forward

References

56

The Uganda Commercial Fish Farmers Inputs and Services Suppliers Guide

57
Inputs and Services Suppliers Guide April 2009 The Uganda Commercial Fish Farmers

farming is the first of its kind in Africa.

The Buyers Guide, indicates where to

purchase inputs and supplies needed for fish

References
April 2009

FISH Annual Report 2006

FISH Annual Report, 2007

Fish Farmers Symposium and Trade Show, May 6-7, 2008, held at UMA Conference Hall, Lugogo, Kampala. Includes 18 full presentations including enterprise budget worksheets.

www.ag.auburn.edu/fish/international/ uganda

Proceedings of the First Fish Farmers Symposium 26 April 2007. Includes 19 full presentations.

Selected FISH documents available on Auburns website:

What is carrying capacity? And why is it important?

Coming soon.

Fish pond construction for Commercial Aquaculture: Definitions and standards

Proceedings of the Consultative Workshop on Aspects of Fish Health Management, 13 April 2006

Proceedings of the Fish Feeds Forum, 19 January 2006 (7 presentations)

Veverica, K.L., R. Asiimwe, N. Isyagi, and W. Daniels. 2009. High density tilapia

Annex 1: Typical Progression of Aquaculture Development

2005 Project Real Starting Point USAID Assumed Starting Point September 2007 Situation End of Project 2008

Feeding Fish in Commercial Ponds using Complete Diets

Deveopment Criteria
1. Quality Fish Farm Design & Construction 2. Quality & Quantities of Feeds

culture in locally-made low volume cages in Uganda. World Aquaculture Societys Book of Abstracts Aquaculture 2009, Vera Cruz, Mexico, Sept. 25-30, 2009.

Trip report of Dr. Boyd, October 2007. Discusses cage culture in Lake Victoria with regard to potential nutrient loading. Presents site selection evaluation criteria and best management practices for cage culture.

Substance Level
None

Compost or supplemental feeds (Ag/household wastes)

Manual for the Commercial Production of Nile Tilapia in Low volume-High Density Cages, estimated 100 pages; in draft. Final revisions and printing scheduled for end of September 2009.
Emerging Fish Farmer Level
None Supplemental or on-farm feed production

Manual for the Commercial Production of Nile Tilapia in Ponds, 200 pages; provides a complete set of recommended practices for profitable production of tilapia; based upon data collected during the demonstration farm trials. In first revisions, due to be out at end of August 2009.

The Uganda Commercial Fish Farmers Inputs and Services Suppliers Guide, April 2009, 80 pages; gives information on 40 private firms and six government institutions that provide services to the fish farming sector.

Start Up Commercial Fish Farmers

Limited based upon visits to other farms/facilities with incomplete or poor designs Limited access, incomplete on-farm produced sinking feeds

Manual for the Commercial Pond Production of the African Catfish, 200 pages; provides a complete set of recommended practices for profitable production of catfish; based upon data collected during the demonstration farm trials. In review, due to be out at end of July 2009.

Developing Commercial Fish Farmers

Development of core group of commercially viable producers and poor copycats; Design by academia or government support Development of nutritionally complete pelleted feeds with increased access, but limited understanding of feed application and its economics

Aquaculture Industry
Establishment of specialized services by private sector-Engineering, design and construction services

Extruded and pelleted feeds widely available with quality control measures in place; Feed costs decrease or remain the same (but quality increases) as market expands and competition increases. 3. Quality & Quantities of Fish Seed from Hatcheries 4. Record Keeping (Inventory & Budgets) 5. Water Quality Monitoring & Management 6. Understanding of Holding & Transport Live Fish 7. Fish Farm Production Management Plans 8. Fish Health Management Irregular, limited availability; Usually natural pond production or government supplied None Government supplies seed; Limited hatchery design; Limited artificial spawning techniques None or little; mostly in journal format. Improved Hatchery Design with Aeration; Use of Artificial Spawning Techniques Awareness and Started Increased use of artificial spawning with greater production intensity through improved aeration/ water quality management Greater need as intensity and required inputs increase. Records used to make management decisions. None None; Limited flushing for control Awareness but no equipment None None to poor Awareness but no equipment Water Quality Monitoring & Management increases requiring increased access to equipment Increased need for holding and transporting fingerlings and foodfish; Introduction of specialized methods and equipment None None to Limited Awareness Limited numbers of technical packages available for farmers for field implementation and testing None; disease outbreaks limited or not recognized None; disease outbreaks limited or not recognized Awareness due to increased outbreaks, but limited planning 9. Quality Training in Aquaculture 10. Availability of Trained Farm Staff 11. Quality Advisory Services None Limited training by NGOs and local government None None None Limited Extension Services by Government Limited Government & Academic Delivery Very limited; mostly theoretical training Limited Extension Services (i.e,. NAADS), but no certification of qualifications 12. Equipment & Suppliers/ Tech Support Capacity None None Self-served by farmers or NGO-driven Limited development of support services and limited understanding of management relationship to disease occurrence Training emphasis provided in hands-on, commercial-scale production by NGO/academia Increasing in number and quality but still limited Quality increasing but still mostly farm based support (farmer to farmer transfer) Very few with some farmer cooperatives forming to facilitate purchasing Variety of spawning techniques available and implementation of quality control management plans; Fingerling producers become specialized and foodfish producers purchase fingerlings from hatcheries. Business plans implemented and used by banks for loan qualification. Farm records assure traceability of produce on-farm and are used to make management decisions Widespread use of water quality monitoring for intensive farm management and environmental/ marketing requirements. Specialized private-sector services for harvesting, transporting and live holding for markets

Widespread use of field-proven technical packets with development of additional systems/species by academia/government Widespread use and private and public service providers available for on-farm management advising plus developed disease diagnostic services Level of training increases to strengthen technical knowledge and provided by academia and onfarm experience Widely available with practical knowledge & highly competitive (i.e., higher pay) Network of Service Providers with certification and annual review course and re-certification programs.

Network of Suppliers with technical back-stopping

Annex 1 58

13. AQ Regulations & Laws 14. Markets

None or Limited Mostly household consumption

None or Limited Mostly household use and pond bank sales

Developing but often conflicting Local sales

Understood need to develop and harmonize Local sales (retail) with expanding wholesale market

Need to facilitate industry development but set reasonable limits Range in retail and wholesale markets with regional distributors and exporters

Annex 2: Technology Testing and Demonstrations by FISH

(Note: further adoption of technologies is foreseen but will require more than a year to disseminate to interested farmers. Only a few advisory service providers are aware of these technologies. However, several farmers are practicing them now and the results from these demonstration farmers have helped to evaluate the technologies.) Pond Construction Compacted, properly sloped levees and optimum water depths Rational use of freeboard and improved efficiency in labor used to construct ponds Anti-seep collars on pipes and proper anchoring of PVC drainpipes Levee compacting tool (for farmers who cannot hire a compactor) Harvest basins with water inlets for fingerling ponds (facilitates handling and prevents erosion when filling pond) Filter socks for screening; conical screens for drains (increase the total open space) In development: sheepsfoot packer and tipping trailer for walk-behind tractor to facilitate construction of larger ponds (>2,000 m2). Completed in 2009 after project end and is included in the buyers guide. 2. Cages Culturing African catfish in cages: appropriate design to minimize feed loss Cages fixed on a raft Self-suspended cages (fixed to an anchored long line) Feeding enclosures specific design choices for floating and for sinking feeds Predator-proof covers Rearing fry to fingerling in cages 1. Catfish fingerling holding cages for fishers and bait dealers Conditioning cage that is inserted into grow-out cage Demand feeders for applying slow-sinking feed In development: truncated pyramid design (only if floating feed available locally) for use in rough waters of the open Lake Victoria. Insufficient time to build the cage and run trials. 3. Formulated Feeds Traceability and storage procedures for formulated fish feeds Use of stabilized vitamin C in all diets Ugachick and Nuvita sinking pellets Larval weaner diets imported by Balton Uganda from RMC Israel Use of feeding charts coupled with trained observations to determine proper daily feeding amounts Use of feed records and calculations of FCR to evaluate different feed options In development: floating fish feed made in Uganda. Expected to be achieved in July 2009. 4. Hatchery Technology Solar-powered and small battery powered aeration Blowers and efficient diffusers Moveable tanks (wood/liner and plastic), allow for greater flexibility in hatchery design Degassing towers where appropriate Water quality monitoring (dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide,

predator fish to more effectively eliminate reproduction Hand sexing of stunted fish that results in all-male tilapia that grow to large size

6.

Harvesting New design commercial fish farm seine with mudline, sinkers, and bag; improved efficiency and reduced labor requirement, improved fish health at harvest Use of dead men, meaning the stakes that hold up the net and cages/hapas for working fish in the pond Fish baskets and basins Transport An assortment of fish transport options, including: Oxygen-filled plastic bags for fry and fingerling Small- and medium-sized transport tanks using compressed oxygen and diffusers; tanks for fish transport must allow for easy loading and off-loading of fish Micropore diffusers for increased efficiency of oxygen exchange rates Aeration manifolds for multiple small transport containers In development: flexible fish transport tank with cover. Marketing/Processing Multi-tiered chokkor smoker (improves efficiency of fruitwood use, safer for health of workers, and results in a better product) Live fish marketing to increase bargaining power of farmers Portable live fish holding tank Static live fish holding systems with recirculation Weekly fish drop-off point for farmers group members

7. pH, temperature, ammonia, hardness, alkalinity) Improved sampling procedures to assess inventory Holding, grading, handling facilities and procedures Records for traceability and evaluation of performance Use of belt feeders for applying hydrated lime to adjust pH and for feeding clarias fry Fish health management plans Use of air lifts for elevating water Simple emergency air supply system using innertubes Sex reversal of tilapia in hapas (with improved water circulation)

A small, portable cage, with drawstring cover was made in response to a request from a fish processor, Greenfields, Ltd, to allow fishers on Lake Kyoga to hold their catches alive while waiting for the ice truck to arrive. The fishers have since adapted the design to suit their needs and are using small cages to hold bait and to hold their catch.

8.

5.

Production Planning Base stocking rates on desired size and carrying capacity of pond/cage; carrying capacities and maximum feeding rates verified in the field Staged production to use pond space efficiently Improved timing in stocking of

59

Annex 2

Annex 2

60

Average price per piece (USh) Average price per Kg (USh) % Sold as Bait Fish

% Sold toother Farmers % Sold Retail

% Sold to Middlemen
91 0 0 13 9 15 18 17 0 85 76 66 100 0 0 95 0 0 82 0 0 13 0 0 60 0 0 58 0 0 95 5 0 0 66 28 0 24 20 2 35 22 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0 100 0 0

Type
Catfish Submarket Table Size Grow-Out Total Hatchery SM Fingerling 7-10cm MD Fingerling 10-12cm LG Fingerling 12-15cm XLG Fingerling 10,279 >15cm Hatchery Total Tilapia Submarket Table Size Grow-Out Total Hatchery SM Fingerling 1-5g 139,379 53,200 18,180 223,759 Fingerling 5-20g Stocker 20-100g Hatchery Total Fry 1g or less 13,000 6,555 325,000 7,102,250 2,946,350 1,821,000 12,194,600 4,584 1,862 Grow-Out Broodstock 109 1,618,247 247,637,625 436,496 4,939,798 7,796,608 13,172,901 25 51 55 100 4019 2654 1701 2,890,040 721,839 122,157,930 166,615 29,243,975 176 169 281 491,764 85,164,680 173 Fry <7cm 227,750 8,181,000 36 4,775 11,833,283 4,015 9,981,083 2486 0 0 0 5 18 86 40 42 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 99 172,440 1742 0 Grow-Out Broodstock 661 1,679,760 2540 0

Size 1

Size 2

Number (Qty)

Weight (Kgs)

Total Price Total Price per Head @ Kgs (USh) (USh)

0 0 6 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 56 41 0 0 0 0 0

Annex 4: Commercial Fish Farm Sales Report 2008

Number of farms reporting sales: Catfish hatchery: 9 Catfish table-size: 20 Tilapia hatchery: 10 Tilapia table-size: 10

Average price per piece (USh)

Average price for Period @ Kg (USh)

% Sold as Bait Fish

% Sold toother Farmers

% Sold Retail

% Sold to Middlemen Type

Catfish

Size 1
Grow-Out

Size 2
Broodstock Submarket Table Size Grow-Out Total Hatchery Fry <7cm SM Fingerling 7-10cm MD Fingerling 10-12cm LG Fingerling 12-15cm

Number (Qty)

Weight (Kgs)
572 721 32,746 34,038 272,930 423,633 78.202 184,438 XLG Fingerling 14,353 >15cm Hatchery Total Tilapia Grow-Out Broodstock Submarket Table Size Grow-Out Total Hatchery Fry 1g or less SM Fingerling 1-5g Fingerling 5-20g Annex 4 62 Stocker 20-100g Hatchery Total 320,420 147,057 230,003 50,136 747,616 973,556 484 12,360 12,533 25,377

Total Price Total Price per Head @ Kgs (USh) (USh)

1,488,557 1,470,591 103,258,922 106,218,070 47,493,300 79,332,275 16,353,028 32,555,680 3,265,650 178,999,933 1,064,497 19,135,409 34,706,649 54,906,555 4,575,600 9,296,378 17,487,460 4,255,280 35,614,718

2,604 2,041 3,153 174 187 209 177 228

0 0 0 0 0 0 9 87 7 17 2199 1548 2769 14 63 76 85 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

100 63 0 13 100 100 91 13 93 83 100 0 0 3 0 100 100 100 100

9 37 48 47 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 98 92 93 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 51 49 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 4 0 0 0 0 0

% Sold to Processors

% Sold to Processors

61

Annex 3: Commercial Fish Farm Sales Report 2007

Number of farms reporting sales: Catfish hatchery: 8 Catfish table-size: 11 Tilapia hatchery: 6 Tilapia table-size: 9

Annex 3

63

Annex 5: FISH Training Sessions

October 2005-September 2008
Date Male
Oct 2005 Pond Construction Train farmers and service providers on proper construction of ponds. Ie. Standards and definitions, Layout, compaction, calculating slopes, preventage of leakages - core trenching, costings Practicals for FTI students who at the time were having lectures on pond construction. Standards and Definitions, Layout, compaction, calculating slopes, preventage of leakages - core trenching, evaluation of ponds Target Group - Farmers. Production of Cladocerans., production planning for hatcheries Target Group - Farmers. Production of Cladocerans., production planning for hatcheries Target Group - Selected demonstration farmers, their farm managers and Students on Attachment at ARDC-Kajjansi. Farm planning and management for commercial aquaculture Target Group - Selected demonstration farmers, their farm managers and Students on Attachment at ARDC-Kajjansi. Farm planning and management for commercial aquaculture Target Group - Selected demonstration farmers, their farm managers and Students on Attachment at ARDC-Kajjansi. Farm planning and management for commercial aquaculture To create awareness on urgent demand and business opportunity for commercial fish feed in Uganda, prices producers can support, progress in the area, requirements to support commercial fish feed production.Target Group - Policy Makers, Animal Feed Processors, International Commercial Fish Feed Producers, Donors to the Agricultural Sector, Feed Input suppliers, Bankers Target Group - Staff ARDC Kajjansi, and students. Basics of fish nutrition, how to feed fish, and how the different types of fish feed are made. Target Group - Demonstration Farmers and their managers. Demonstration on proper methods of harvestingand handling large quantities of fish from commercial growout ponds. Standards and specifications for demonstration ponds - hatchery and grow-out. Create awareness on production, socio-economic and environmental issues associated cage culture and the opportunity cage culture offers to the fishery sector in the country. Target Group - Policy Makers, Researchers, Relevant Government Agencies, Lectures Relevant Training Institutions and NGOs SCOPE Boardroom 30 Kajjansi Conference room 15 5 Kajjansi Conference room 12 8 20 Kajjansi Conference room 12 3 15 ARDC Kajjansi 6 1 7 1 1 ARDC Kajjansi 15 3 18 1 Sissa Intergrated Fish Farm 40 10 50 2 Sissa Intergrated Fish Farm 16 2 18 3 N. Isyagi, K. Veverica

Annex 5
Training Title Female Total Description Location of Training Number Trained Days Resource Persons
Oct 2005 Pond Construction N. Isyagi, K. Veverica 6-Dec-05 7-Dec-05 Jan. 6, 06 Farm Planning & Mgt. for Demo Farmers Livefeeds for clarias hatcheries (short version) Livefeeds for clarias hatcheries N. Isyagi, O. Wadunde, R. Asiimwe N. Isyagi, O. Wadunde, R. Asiimwe N. Isyagi 7 Jan. 13, 06 Record Keeping and Basics of Aquaculture 1 N. Isyagi Jan. 14, 06 Water Quality basics and Commercial Pond Management for fish farmers Fish Feed Forum -consultative workshop 20 1 Dr Allen Davis, K. Veverica, N. Isyagi Jan. 19, 06 5 35 1 Dr. Davis, K. Ververica, N. Isyagi, Mr. Bbosa and Mr. Tugumisirize Jan. 20, 06 Fish Feeds and feeding Kajjansi Conference room Kajjansi & Siisa Intergrated Fish Farm 17 5 22 1 Dr Davis Jan. 26, 06 Pond Management for Commercial fish farms & Seining, Pond Construction 21 3 24 1 Dr. Schmittou, K. Veverica, N. Isyagi Feb. 01,06 Cage Culture Seminar/ consultative workshop Kajjansi Conference room 26 4 30 1 Dr. Schmittou, K. Veverica, R. Asiimwe

Person Days
54

100

18

15

20

20

35

22

24

30

Date
Mar. 14,06

Training Title
Introductory Commercial Fish Hatchery Demonstration

Description
Official opening of training demonstrations to farmers/ stakeholders. Demonstration of technologies set up by project on the specific farm to improve productivity and returns to Stakeholders and agencies (government and donors) providing support to the sector.

Location of Training
Umoja Farm

Number Trained Male

18

Days Female
3

Resource Persons Total

21 1 Ms. Rugunda, N. Isyagi

Person Days
21

Mar. 24,06

Pond Design & Construction demo. Plus Feeding & Pond Records Mar. 31,06 Pond Construction Demonstration 10-Apr-06 Fish Health & Aquaculture

Hands on Demonstration on standard requirements for commercial pond design and construction; feeding commercial pellets and record keeping for enterprise budgeting. Target Group - Fish farmers Hands on Demonstration on standard requirements for commercial pond siting, design and construction. Target Group - Fish farmers and service providers Overview and awareness of significance fish disease diagnostics and management in commercial aquaculture. Target Group - Lecturers and Students from Vet Faculty and Department of Zoology - Fisheries and Aquaculture, Fishery Officers. 13-Apr-06 Fish Health (Consultative Workshop) Overview and awareness of significance fish disease diagnostics, surviellance and and control at a National level if commercial aquaculture is to be viable and sustainable (product assurance for market accessibility). Target Group - Policy makers, Researchers, lecturers from relevant tertiary institutions, relevant government agencies. 14-Apr-06 Fish Health Management for Fish Farmers Hands on demonstration on identification of symptons, appropriate response to conditions and their managment, administration of treatment. Target Group - Demofarmers and their managers, fish hatchery producers, fishery officers and students 25-Apr-06 Harvesting, handling & Holding of fish, sexing tilapia 26-Apr-06 Harvesting, handling & Holding of fish, sexing tilapia 27-Apr-06 Harvesting, handling & Holding of fish, sexing tilapia 27-Apr-06 Clinical examination of fish Hands on demonstration on harvesting, handling, holding and sexing large numbers of fish with minimum loss. Target Group - fish hatchery operators (both demo and other farmers), students and service providers Hands on demonstration on harvesting, handling, holding and sexing large numbers of fish with minimum loss. Target Group - fish hatchery operators (both demo and other farmers), students and service providers Hands on demonstration on harvesting, handling, holding and sexing large numbers of fish with minimum loss. Target Group - fish hatchery operators (both demo and other farmers), students and service providers Hands on training on clinical examination of fish, sample collection and transportation, diagnosis of diseases. Target Group - technicians from animal disease diagnosis laboratories 2-May-06 Fish harvesting, handling, transport Hands on demonstration on harvesting, handling, holding and transporting fish live. Target Group - fish farmers and students

UFP Jinja

R. Asiimwe, K. Veverica, Sujith

Mpigi Fish Farm

26

27

Eng. Mash, P. Okisopi

54

Faculty of Vet. Medicine

25

13

38

Dr. J. Terhune

38

ARDC Kajjansi

20

24

Dr. J. Terhune, Dr. N. Isyagi, Ms. F. Kiboneka, Mr. P. Akol

24

ARDC Kajjansi

19

24

Dr. J. Terhune, Dr. N. Isyagi, J. Walakira

24

ARDC Kajjansi

11

K. Veverica, R. Asiimwe and S. Orukan

11

ARDC Kajjansi

14

K. Veverica, R. Asiimwe and S. Orukan

14

ARDC Kajjansi

19

25

K. Veverica, R. Asiimwe and S. Orukan

25

ARDC Kajjansi

12

Dr. N. Isyagi, J. Walakira

12

ARDC Kajjansi

12

K. Veverica, Sam Orukan

12

Annex 5 64

65
Date Male
11-May-06 Commercial Pond Mgt and Fish Feeding Training and demonstration on production planning, stocking, pond management and pond production records, sampling, feeding and use of feed charts, calculate feed requirments for fish. Target Group - Fish farmers and fish farm manager, service providers and students Training production of fish in cages. Target Group - Interested potential cage fish farmers, service providers and students Live feed production planning, set-up of live feed production facility and production of Cladocerans and as well as facilities for hatching and hatching of Artemia for catfish hatcheries. Target Group - Fish hatchery operators, service providers and students. Installation of inlet and outlet pipes with antiseep collars; proper screening of inlet and outlet pipes. Target Group Fish farmers and service providers Training and demonstration on production planning, stocking, pond management and pond production records, sampling, feeding and use of feed charts, calculate feed requirments for fish. Target Group - Fish farmers and fish farm manager, service providers and students Hands on Demonstration on standard requirements for commercial pond siting, design and construction. Target Group - Fish farmers and service providers Hands on Demonstration on standard requirements for commercial pond siting, design and construction. Target Group - Fish farmers and service providers Hands on Demonstration on standard requirements for commercial pond siting, design and construction. Installation of inlet and outlet pipes with antiseep collars; proper screening of inlet and outlet pipes. Target Group - Fish farmers and service providers Nansana Integrated Farm Training on operations of commercial fish hatcheries, production planning and control, record keeping and evaluation of performance. Target Group - fish hatchery operators, students and service providers, & PRIME West farmers PRIME West farmers Umoja Farm 16 Nansana Integrated Farm 21 5 Nansana Integrated Farm 22 5 27 Samarieza, Mukono 15 5 20 1 Musomerwas Hatchery, Iganga 15 4 19 1 Sunfish, Kajansi 14 13 27 1 ARDC Kajjansi 8 5 13 1 R. Asiimwe, K. Veverica Uganda Fish Packers, Jinja 17 4 21 1 Dr. N. Isyagi and Sujith 21

Training Title Female Total

Description

Location of Training

Number Trained

Days

Resource Persons

Person Days

Annex 5
12-May-06 Cage Culture 18-May-06 Live Feed Production Dr. N. Isyagi, Rhona Nabukera 23-May-06 Pond Construction Eng. Mash, N. Isyagi 25-May-06 Commercial Pond Management Dr. N. Isyagi, Ms Zaramba 30-May-06 Fish Pond Construction 1 Eng. Mash, N. Isyagi 31-May-06 Fish Pond Construction 26 1 Eng. Mash, N. Isyagi 1-Jun-06 Fish Pond Construction 16 1 Eng. Mash, N. Isyagi 1-Jun-06 Commercial Hatchery Management 18 7 25 1 N. Isyagi, Ms. Rugunda 2-Jun-06 Record Keeping, Fish Feeding, Pond Construction & Siting Cage net making ARDC Kajjansi 7 1 8 1 K. Veverica, N. Isyagi 8 2-Jun-06 Hands on training on cage making. Target Group - interested fish farmers and fishermen, service providers and staff of FIRRI, Jinja Training and demonstration on production planning, stocking, pond management and pond production records, sampling, feeding and use of feed charts, calculate feed requirments for fish. Hands on demonstration on harvesting, handling, holding and sorting fish for transfer. Target Group - Fish farmers, service providers Uganda Fish Packers, Jinja Uganda Fish Packers, Jinja 7 2 9 1 R. Asiimwe 9 14-Jun-06 Grading, harvesting, handling, feeding, transport 3 1 4 1 R. Asiimwe, K. Veverica, N. Isyagi 4

13

27

19

20

27

26

16

25

Date
21-Jun-06

Training Title
Pond Reconstruction

Description
Reconstruction of ponds to meets standards for commercial fish ponds. Special request by WAFICOS farmers. Target group - Fish farmers

Location of Training
Kitezi, Wakiso

Number Trained Male

11

Days Female
2

Resource Persons Total

13 1 Eng. Mash

Person Days
13

22-Jun-06

Pond Reconstruction

Reconstruction of ponds to meets standards for commercial fish ponds. Special request by WAFICOS farmers. Target group - Fish farmers Live Feeds Live feed production planning, set-up of live feed production facility and production of Cladocerans and as well as facilities for hatching and hatching of Artemia for catfish hatcheries. Target Group - Fish hatchery operators, service providers and students.

Kitezi, Wakiso

12

15

Eng. Mash

15

22-Jun-06

Umoja Farm

10

O. Wadunde

10

29-Jun-06

Commercial Pond Mgment(grow out & feeding)

Training and demonstration on production planning, stocking, pond management and pond production records, sampling, feeding and use of feed charts, calculate feed requirments for fish. Target Group - Fish farmers and fish farm manager, service providers and students 26-Jul-06 Infrastructure and water supply and use for commercial aquaculture farms. Objective: expose engineers from NAROs Agricultural Engineering and Tecnology development Institute to areas within aquaculture where their services shall be required. Issues looked at were farm layout, pond construction, water harnessing and reticulation on farms including machinary used. 8-Aug-06 Feeding Fish and Use of Feed Charts Seminar conducted for UgaChick Ltd extension and feed sales personnel on nutritional requirements for fish, feeding fish, use of feeding charts including a general overview of pond management and management factors that affect feeding and growth of fish in grow-out ponds. 31-Jul-06 Harvesting, handling & Grading Fish in Hatcheries Demonstrate to Demo-hatchery managers and other hatchery managers the proper techiniques for harvesting and handling larvae and fry during grading and sorting fish in hatcheries. Managers were also trained in proper use of fish graders, grading transfer of fish fish within the farm, using water to move fish, maintaining water quality during the process and the appropriate records to keep. 21-Aug-06 Seminar on Aspects of Aquaculture Engineering Expose engineers from training institutions, the private and public sector especially those whose work links with agricultural sector to areas in aquaculture where their services would be required by the sector and what sought of services these are. 26-Aug-06 Pond Construction Demonstration on pond construction for farmers. This training session was requested for by farmers and the deomonstration session overseen by participants from previous training sessions. 28-Aug-06 Pond Construction Demonstration on pond construction for farmers. This training session was requested for by farmers and the deomonstration session overseen by participants from previous training sessions.

Samarieza, Mukono

21

14

35

N. Isyagi, Ms. Zaramba

35

Sunfish, Kajansi and Borels Mixed Farm, Entebbe

N. Isyagi

ARDC Kajjansi

10

12

N. Isyagi, K. Veverica

12

Musomerwas Hatchery, Iganga

14

19

N. Isyagi

19

ARDC Kajjansi

19

22

K. Veverica, N. Isyagi, I. Mugisa

22

Lower-Kawuga, Mukono town council

13

22

D. Balemezi, Andrew, R. Assimwe

88

Bwesacco, Mukono

10

29

39

D. Balemezi, Andrew, R. Assimwe

156

Annex 5 66

67
Date Male
23 & 24 Nov-06 30th-Nov/ 1st Dec-06 7-Dec-06 14-Dec-06 Fish Feed Makers Meeting, consultative workshop Presentation on equipemtn and manufacture requirements for pproduction of floating feed. Recent developments in extruded feed mill investment. Summarize total feed demand next year. Principles of fish nutrition; qualities of fish feed; fish feeding techniques. Safety and use of compressed oxygen in fish transport. How to use oxygen regulators and flow meters. Correct handling before and after transport. To explain carrying capacity and show why it is the basis for stocking density and feeding recommendations. How to get the most out of your feed. Field demonstration on feeding techniques. To explain carrying capacity and show why it is the basis for stocking density and feeding recommendations. How to get the most out of your feed. Field demonstration on feeding techniques. How cage culture is practiced in other countries. The basis for cage design and management. Results from cage culture trials in Uganda. NAFIRRI, Jinja, and Uganda Fish Packers cage site 35 Fisheries Training Institute, Entebbe 10 Basis for cage design and management. Results from cage culture trials in Uganda; Discussions with government authorities on needs of investors regarding policy on cage culture. Session held at pond side where renovations were about to take place. Staking out dike limits, how to displace soil effectively, pond design criteria Held exclusively for employees of Uganda Fishnet Manufacturers at their factory. Trained a team of workers to make cages and commercial fish farm seines so the UFM can sell the ready-made products. Presentations from government agencies and suppliers on permits required & sources of inputs. Presentations from demonstration farmers on lessons learned and current production results. Many questions from audience. FISH staff took advantage of a visit by Jim Miller who was visiting from Sudan to have him give a presentation on aquaculture in Nigeria where he worked thru FAO. Show in a real hatchery: sample collection , visual signs of disease, review of records to ascertain causative factors 9 NAFIRRI, Kajjansi and Kasenge Fish Farm, Sseguku 31 15 Nafirri, Jinja and SON farm 20 7 27 Garuga, Entebbe (IIL fish farm) 25 14 39 1 ARDC Kajjansi 24 19 43 1 USAID APEP Boardroom 8 3 11 1 Fish Nutrition & Feed Management Principles of fish nutrition; qualities of fish feed; fish feeding techniques. FIRRI, Jinja 42 9 51 1 Dr. Davis Dr. Davis, Veverica Seining, Handling, Harvesting Seining techniques, fish handling and transfer , use of harvest basin; pond records S.O.N 24 6 30 2 Veverica Seine Making Mounting of seine material to float and lead lines at proper hanging ratio; installation of a bag; mudline and seining techniques ARDC Kajjansi 52 14 66 2 Veverica, Asiimwe 132

Training Title Female Total

Description

Location of Training

Number Trained

Days

Resource Persons

Person Days

Annex 5
12-Dec-06 10-Jan-07 Oxygen & Transport Training Fish Feeding & Carrying Capacity Fish Nutrition & Feeding Dr. Davis Veverica 22-Feb-07 1 Veverica, Isyagi 7-Mar-07 Fish Feeding & Carrying Capacity 46 1 Isyagi 13-Mar-07 Cage Culture 44 1 Schmittou, Veverica, Asiimwe 3 13 1 Schmittou, Veverica 19-Mar-07 Cage Culture seminar and consultative workshop 23-Mar-07 Pond Rehabilitation Blessed Investments Fish Farm UFM premises, Kampala 3 1 4 1 Isyagi 4 13th/14th April, 10th/17th May 07 Cage and seine making 26-Apr-07 Fish Farmers Symposium 1 6 7 4 Asiimwe, Veverica UMA Conference Centre 165 50 215 1 Commissioner for Fisheries FISH team 4-May-07 Overview of Nigerian Aquaculture Field techniques for fish health management NAFIRRI, Kajjansi 19 8 27 1 Miller 19-May-07 Umoja Farm 31 6 37 1 Terhune, Isyagi

60 51 11

43 39

27

46

44

13

28

215

27

37

Date
23-May-07 29-May-07

Training Title
Fish Health Management & Plan Development Seminar on Fish Health

Description
Field and lab work conducted at SON Farm, for staff and visiting students. Provide updates to fisih health specialaists on fish health activities carried out for the year.\; presentation of A. Tamales research proposal

Location of Training
SON Fish Farm NAFIRRI, Kajjansi

Number Trained Male

5 7

Days Female
5 4

Resource Persons Total

10 11 1 1 Terhune, Isyagi, Walkira Terhune

Person Days
10 11

14-Jun-07 20-Jun-07 23-Jul-07 28-Aug-07 9-Aug-07 24-Sep-07

Fish Smoking using a chorkor smoker Engineering Aspects of fish Hatcheries Chorkor smoker construction Fish Grading & Feeding Fish Farmers Consultative Meeting Interpretation and use of Feed Records 1-Oct-07 1-Oct-07 19-Oct-07 Tilapia Production test Package for trial farmers Seining and fish handling Environmental management in cage culture

Training done by request for farmers who wanted to begin smoking catfish for local retail sales Parameters for designing catfish hatcheries held for AETRIC and lecturers and private sector suppliers Construction of a chorkor smoker with multiple tiers Held for student interns from Makerere University at Kajjansi station Discuss issues raised by demonstration farmers and what farmers expect out of the project. For fish farmers and interns: analyis and interpretation of pond and feed records; trouble shooting and means of improving FCR Train selected farmers on proposed tilapia production package and discuss MOUwith them. Practical for students in fish harvesting and seining Seminar conducted for staff of NaFIRRI, WRMD, and others in environmentlal aspects to take into consideration for cage culture operations with special reference to Lake Victoria. 22-Oct-07 Water and Soil quality considerations for aquaculture 23-Oct-07 27-Oct-07 Water quality for improved aquaculture Pond seining, handling, and transfer of fish 8-Nov-07 13-Nov-07 17-20 Nov 29-Nov-07 30-Nov-07 General pond management and record keeping Fish handling & pond records Ponds repair Tilapia Hatchery techniques Tilapia Hatchery techniques To highlight importance of considering water and soil quality in aquaculture to farmers andgovernment authorities Public lecture on water quality issues on aquaculture and BMP for cage culture for farmers, students and lecturers Practical on pond seining,handling, transfer of fish and record keeping for Bachelor of Vet medicine Makerere University students Validating our technology packages with Iganga Farmers Training Students on hands techniques in handling fish and records; Drawing, Spliting and Stocking ponds 1,2,&3 Equipping participants with knowledge of repairing ponds Demonstrate to farmers the tilapia hatchery management skills using ponds and hapas How to sex tilapia to assess the efficacy of sex reversal; trouble shooting on hatcheries for tilapia

NAFIRRI, Kajjansi Nellys Home Kasenge Fish Farm NAFIRRI, Kajjansi ARDC Kajjansi Kasenge Fish Farm

4 5 4 4 9 18

0 3 2 0 2 8

4 8 6 4 11 26

1 1 1 1 1 1

Asiimwe Isyagi, Miller Asiimwe, Miller Asiimwe Miller Isyagi

4 8 6 4 11 26

Kajjansi FTI, Entebbe NaFIRRI

4 1 25

1 9 12

5 10 37

1 1 1

Isyagi Asiimwe,Kakuru Dr. Boyd

5 10 37

Anderita Hotel, Entebbe Makerere University Naluvule farm

25

11

36

Dr. Boyd

36

66 27

24 8

90 35

1 1

Dr. Boyd Kahwa & Isyagi

90 35

Musomerwas Hatchery, Iganga Namuyenje Fish Farm Edron Fish FarmBuloba-Wakiso SON Fish Farm SON Fish Farm

17 4 1 21 19

3 0 6 9 2

20 4 7 30 21

1 1 3 1 1

Isyagi Isyagi, Kakuru Isyagi, Kakuru Dr. Phelps Dr. Phelps

20 4 21 30 21

Annex 5 68

69
Date Male
4-Dec-07 Catfish Hatchery Management 2 Demonstration on handling broodstock during egg fatilisation,diseffecting eggs with KMnO4, incubation facilities,estimating the egg amount and quality,broodstock spawningand milt collection. Equip farmers with hands-on skills on the first feeding on spawned fish, larva rearing, decysting and hatching artemias well as quality cysts.techniques off fish transfer and hatchery siphoning,stocking larva fish, fish treatment,nusery management, fish feeding and record keeping. Hands-on skills on Preparation,stockingand management of nursery ponds;handling fingerlings;transfer of live fish within and without hatchery ponds; use of KMn04 for treatment in ponds. To demonstrate practical skills on grading 3 different sizes of catfish fingerlings and transport methods for long distance. Practical on pond renovation,harvesting basin & installation for FTI graduates Demonstrate to students how to construct fish ponds (9.8M X 13M) under supervision, measure of slopes, levee dimensions and learning correct compaction of the levees. Water sampling, proper use, handling and storage of water quality equipment, important parameters, analysis and interpretation of the results thereof. Demonstrate to catfish operators, students, Trainers and intending farmers the basic concepts of managing water re-use system for catfish production. Interfish, Entebbe Training Trials and other Farmers about Stocking, basic pond Management and Record keeping. Feeding techniques, Feed Conversion Ratios (FCRs), Pond Fertilization vis-a-vis to static water management. Demonstrating to farmers how to clean and smoke fish using chorkor smoker Demonstrate use and set up of hatching jar, prepare nursery ponds, and Priciples of health management Lecture on requirements for fish feed manufacture Hands-on skills on outgrowing techniques Outline standard methods used in ponds and happa and laboratory-based aquaculture research. Presentations from government agencies and suppliers on permits required & sources of inputs. Presentations on enterprise budgets and farm planning; current production results. Many questions from audience. MuSO4 Enterprises, Iganga MuSO4 Enterprises, Iganga NaFIRRI-Kajjansi Umoja Fish Farm Kajjansi ARDC Mpigi Fish Farm Kajjansi ARDC 23 Umoja Farm,Wakiso 33 8 Fisheries Training Institute(FTI), Entebbe 14 6 20 Matovus farm-Mpigi 3 0 3 Umoja Farm 11 3 14 1 Umoja Farm 22 10 32 1 Dr. Phelps Umoja Farm 31 7 38 1 Dr. Phelps Umoja Farm 31 9 40 1 Dr. Phelps 40

Training Title Female Total

Description

Location of Training

Number Trained

Days

Resource Persons

Person Days

Annex 5
6-Dec-07 Catfish Hatchery Management 4 7-Dec-07 Catfish Hatchery Management 5 8-Dec-07 Catfish Hatchery Management 6 Pond renovation Pond Construction Dr. Phelps 17-20 Dec 7-12-Jan08 4 6 Dr. Isyagi Kakuru JB 8-11-Jan08 18/Jan/08 Management of Recirculating Water system -Catfish Hatchery Stocking And Pond management Feeding Fish and Pond Fertilization Fish Smoking using a choker smoker Fish Health Management Fish Feed Manufacture Out Growers Fish Farming Research Methods for production and feed evaluation 2nd Fish Farmers Symposium and Trade Show Applied water Quality 41 4 Dr. Isyagi; Dr Leonard 5 28 1 Dr. Isyagi 31/Jan/08 20/Mar/08 26/Mar/08 22 - 25 Apr 08 28-Apr-08 28-Apr-08 29-Apr-08 20 11 5 33 3 9 28 5 3 1 9 3 2 8 25 14 6 42 6 11 36 1 1 1 4 1 1 1 Dr. Isyagi Dr. Isyagi R. Asiimwe Dr. Isyagi Dr. Allen Davis Dr. Isyagi / C. Ducarme Dr. Allen Davis 6 6 6-7May 08 UMA Conference Centre 150 22 172 2 entire FISH team, government reps, researchers, farmers

38

32

14

12 120

164

28

25 14

168

11 36

344

Date
15-May-08 16-May-08 22-May-08 9-13 June08 4/Jul/08 5/Jul/08 9/Jul/08 8/Aug/08 Sampling Fish Cage Culture

Training Title

Description
Evaluate the feed coversion ratio (FCR) and give recommendation for the necessary adjustments Discussion about what cage culture is how it can benefit fishers.

Location of Training
Kitangala Garden and Fish ponds Gerenge landing site

Number Trained Male

8 7

Days Female
4 2

Resource Persons Total

12 9 1 1 Mulamberi Emma Rashid Asiimwe

Person Days
12 9

Use of water test kit Production and Business Planning for Hatchery Introduction to Fish Farming Commercial Management and Fish Feeding Fish Pond Construction and Repair Pegging out New Ponds

Demontration of use of water testing equipments Provide hatchery owners with practical skills on hatchery manangent and on production and Planning. To give basic concepts regarding fish farming and encouraging intending fish farmers . Train Grow-out Farmers in Mbarara who have sourced seed from MPIGI Fish Farm Refresh trainers in Fish Construction Techniques and related key issues. Train students from FTI, Engineers who have been already trained on pond rehabilitation on how to stake out a new pond.

Umoja Fish Farm Umoja Fish Farm Mbarara Mbarara Kitezi Fish farm (Ssempebwas) ARDC- Kajjansi

6 18 32 27 11 13

5 12 44 28 5 7

11 30 76 55 16 20

1 5 1 1 1 1

K. Veverica Dr. Isyagi/ Dr. Phelps P. Ssebinyansi Ben Kiddu P. Ssebinyansi Ben Kiddu Dr. Isyagi and P. Ssebinyansi Veverica and Isyagi

11 150 76 55 16 20

28/Aug/08 5/Sep/08

Fish Pond Construction for Engineers Fish Farm Machinery

Train Enginners on design creteria and construction requirements and options for Leeve and Reservior Ponds Equip Farmers with skills on how to use different types of Aquaculture machineries and how to maintain them. How to calculate energy requirments. 6/Sep/08 Seminar for New and Struggling Farmers Equip intending and struggling farmers with the basic information on Fish Farming and hands- on skills on fish farming managmet and business planning.

ARDC- Kajjansi Umoja Fish Farm

23 28

4 7

27 35

1 1

Veverica and Isyagi Veverica and Isyagi

27 35

Uganda Management Institute, Kampala

60

68

Veverica and Isyagi

68

Total person-days:

4970

Annex 5 70

Annex 6: New Enterprises*

*Some businesses have added more than 1 enterprise over the years.

Type
Gear and inputs

Name
Uganda Fishnet Manufacturers

Description
Began producing seine and cage material (small mesh, high ply). Later began to produce ready-made commercial fish farm seines and cages. Imported pond liners and provided engineering services. Imports catfish larval diets. Catfish fingerlings; for bait Sinking pellets with Sta-C Fillets and steaks for supermarkets and restaurants 3 FTI students that were trained by FISH (Ben Kiddu, Jeff Kalule and Daniel Ojiambo Merged with Peter Okisopis pond construction service Produces monosex tilapia from selected broodstock, makes and sells feed; makes and sells demand feeders, and ready-made cage systems; does some small-scale processing. Clarias processing, regional exports Smoked catfish and fresh fillets of catfish and tilapia Construction advice; farm plans Cage culture Catfish fingerlings Extruded; made to order Catfish production, smoking, tourism Makes the commercial fish farm seine Fresh and live sales

Year Started
First made the smaller mesh material for cages and seines in 2005.

Type
Catfish hatchery

Name
Sunfish Farms

Description
Installed first blower and began producing all catfish indoors Was operating previously as a food fish production farm but had severe water shortages.

Year Started
2006; began inside production; farm began in 1999 2006

Catfish fingerlings; tilapia nursery As of 2006 Gear 2008; registered but not in production 2006 Processing; middleman

Umoja Mixed Farm

Gear and inputs Feeds Advisory Fish Farm/Hatchery Feeds Processing Farm/hatchery Advisory

Balton Uganda

Mugoya Metal works Rays Farmed Fish

Commercial scoop nets; and 2008 other fish harvesting gear Buys from other farmers; mostly catfish; smokes and resells Tilapia Production; Dissolved partnership but ponds still in production Cold-smoked products; keep fish alive until time to process; Began making formulated pellets for fish A group of workers formed their own company to bid on the maintenance contract for Kajjansi and began providing pond maintenance and harvesting services to other farms; headed by Sulaiman Kasibante Pond-raised fish and cages in reservoir; Hoima Near Ntungamo; uses fish at hotel Kabale; 2 ha of production ponds 2006; not sure if still in business 2005; no professional contaxts since 2007 Re-start in 2008

Cranefish Ugachick

Fish Farm Training Processing

Ekitangaala Joint Venture Fish Farm Pearl Processors

FishTech

2008

Farm/hatchery Construction Farm/hatchery Feeds Gear Processing

Mpigi Fish Farm and Construction Services SoN Fish Farm, Ltd.

2008 Began 2006; added new enterprises in 2007 and 2008.

Feed Fish farm maintenance

Nuvita Fish Farm Operators and Allied Workers

2006; stopped 2007 2006

Processing Processing Advisory Fish Farm Hatchery Feed Fish Farm Processing Advisory Gear Processing/live sales

Greenfields Uganda Ltd Edron Farm Blessed Investments Interfish Kahoora Enterprises Kitangaala Farm and Gardens Sam Orukan Fantastic Fresh Fish

2007 2007 2008

Cage fish farming Cage fish farming Pond-raised catfish Cage fish farming

Mohmed Mbabazi Bwanika Cage Fish Farm Kitaanga Fish Farm BECA Bunyaruguru Environmental Conservation Association

2008 2006 2008

2008 Began selling 2007; added other enterprises 2008. Had first contracts for gear supplying in 2008. Began marketing farm raised fish in 2006 but failed to source adequate amounts; stopped in 2007. 2008 2006; not sure if still in business

BECA is still in the early stages 2008 of beginning cage fish farming on lakes in Bushenyi

SoN Fish Farm Ltd. employs the most mid-level managers of any farm. It serves as a training venue and regularly accepts interns.

Feed stockist Tilapia hatchery

Hajjati Zula Uganda Fish Breeders

Stocks and resells Ugachick and SoN feed in Iganga Kagamira and Cooke; located near Kampala;

71

Annex 6

Annex 6

72

Annex 7: SAF Approved Grants

Name of Applicant
WAFICOS

Activity Funded/Objective
Strengthening the ability of WAFICOS to provide advisory and equipment loan services to its members and improve ability to assist farmers with marketing their product.

USAID Funds Requested

$22,459

Activity Status
Pond-making machinery, water-testing kits, and harvesting equipment have been bought and the organization has started hiring out these items to upgrade the farms of their members. The association has also hired a technical person to help the farmers in pond construction and has begun marketing services for live fish from farmers ponds. The institute has set up the teaching hatchery, which will be used as a training facility for the institute. The internship program kicked off in early May and 12 students were sent to selected farms where they will receive on-farm training under the supervision of FISH and the FTI instructors. Three FTI instructors attended more than 2 weeks of training courses in hatchery management, use of equipment and machinery on fish farms, and water testing procedures. The farm has sponsored several training sessions. A classroom equipped with projector and other teaching aids is available, as well as lodging for students. Some live-in trainees spend months at a time learning hatchery techniques. The equipment was sourced and shipped in October 2008. Due to rerouting to avoid pirates, equipment did not arrive until February 2009. Most items were shipped pre-assembled. Installation began in April 2009. Local electrical works began in March but were still on-going in July 2009. Fully functional floating fish feed manufacturing is expected to occur in October 2009. Purchase of machinery within Uganda was funded to help the farm increase its output of quality fish feed and to provide the small investment to assure increased availability of all-male tilapia fry that have been produced from selected stocks. The high protein specialty feed production increased and sales of fry increased. The process started in April 2008 with a visit from the U.S. by feedmill engineer J. Barbi and fish feeding specialist Dr. Allen Davis. They reported on the capacities of the 3 mills visited and recommended the best way to assure earliest production of floating feed. Based on the engineers advice, the portion of the funds allocated to make feeds in Kenya for shipping to Uganda was instead used to make a small amount of floating feed in Uganda and an additional technical assistance visit was made to Ugachick to prepare the site for the extruder. This was successfully carried out on 6-7 May 2008, attended by more than 150 fish farmers. The trade show section had 8 exhibitors including Umoja, UgaChick, Balton, and Uganda Fishnet, which had various items for display and sale. The Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries was also well represented as well regulatory bodies such as Uganda Investment Authority and National Environmental Management Authority. Proceedings were published on CD and all presentations are obtainable on the web.

Annex 8: Short-Term Technical Assistance (STTA) and FISH Staff Travel

The following short-term technical assistance sourced through Auburn University was provided. Salary for much of the STTA effort was not paid with USAID funds, as it was part of Auburns cost-sharing portion of the cooperative agreement. These are marked with an asterisk (*).
Dr Bill Daniels and Mr. Billy Earle, June 2005; from International Center for Dr. R. Schmittou, Feb 2006; advisor for

Fisheries Training Institute

Staff development, student internships, and establishment of a hatchery for training. This is aimed at improving the quality of training provided by FTI through hands-on training of staff, establishment of a training hatchery at FTI, and continuation of te internship program.

$20,835

cage production and project planning; assisted in cage design, production procedures, and associated FISH training; made recommendations on project priorities and suggested adjustments.
*Dr. Bill Daniels (FISH Campus Coordinator), April 6-17, 2006 (accompanied by Drs. Jeff Terhune and David Rouse);

Umoja Fish Farm

Training in aquaculture. Increase the capacity of Umoja fish farm to house trainees and carry out both one-day and long term training. Acquisition of a fish feed extrusion plant. This is aimed at enabling the firm to produce the much-needed floating fish feeds.

$31,210

Ugachick Poultry Breeders, Ltd

$220,000

Aquaculture and Aquatic Environments, Auburn, to establish sub-agreements with Makerere University and with NaFIRRI, and discuss project implementation with USAID mission.
*Dr. J. Molnar, July 2005; from Dept. of

Dr. Ron Phelps - Hatchery Managment

SON Fish Farm Ltd

Production of fry and juvenile aquafeeds and all-male selectively bred tilapia fry for secondary nursery farms.

$36,100

Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology; drafted the Project Monitoring Program with the collaboration of Gertrude Atukunda, NaFIRRI and Dr. Consolata Kaboneza of Makerere University Dept. of Gender Studies.
Dr. D. Jackson, October 10-25, 2005;

Auburn University

Evaluation of feed-making capability, production of floating feed and advising to companies interested in making quality fish feed.

$32,488

Dr. Allen Davis - Feeds and Feeding

from Mississippi State University, STTA on fishers issues related to cage production; worked with Veverica, Dr. Isyagi, Dr. Daniel Babikwa, and other FISH staff to develop the survey for assessing fishers attitudes toward cage culture and fishers possible roles in production.
*Dr. Allen Davis, January 2006; formulated diets for catfish hatchery operators and for production diets for a commercial feed mill; provided feed testing protocols, gave seminars in fish feed manufacture, feed management in fish farming, and participated in the fish feeds forum; advised on quality control issues at the feeds lab, Makerere University, and veterinary medicine laboratory.

evaluated the progress of FISH and met with partners to discuss following years Plan of Work as well as provide additional technical support to farmers in aquaculture production. Dr. Rouse traveled on nonproject funds to evaluate the project progress and determine how best to address some of the administrative issues related to project implementation. While Dr. Terhune is a member of the FISH technical support team, he decided to visit Uganda earlier than planned to evaluate the status of fish health and diagnostic capabilities using non-project funds generated through training John Walakira (NaFIRRI-Kajjansi) during the previous summer.
*Dr. Allen Davis, December 2006;

conducted seminars on feeds and feed management; consulted with feed makers, provided advice on feed formulation, and advised on quality control for the feeds analysis lab at the Veterinary School of Makerere University.
*Dr. Bill Daniels, January 2007; helped re-

FISH with WAFICOS

Fish Farmers Symposium and trade show held. The goal was to provide guidance and update fish farmers on key issues related to commercial aquaculture and share experiences any new developments on policies and technology in the industry.

$8,320

vise and improve the PMP; followed up on agreements with NaFIRRI and Makerere, gave seminar on aquaculture management, and assisted in harvesting some of the cages from the trials. He was accompanied by information technology specialist Troy Hahn. Hahns travel and allowances were paid by Auburns funds, not project funds.

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Annex 9: Indicators summary: Fisheries Investment for Sustainable Harvest

Dr. R. Schmittou, March 2007; reviewed

cage culture results and worked out materials and methods for LVHD (low volume high density) cage trials; assessed ongoing project strategy, evaluated project progress, conducted trainings on extension methods and on LVHD cage culture, and met with government officials concerned with regulation of cage culture.
*Dr. Jeff Terhune, May 2007: advised on

ties; also assisted with training programs; Dr. Leonard was later contracted by SoN farm, with funding from the CDE.
*Dr. Ron Phelps, December 2007: gave training on tilapia hatchery techniques at SoN farm and on catfish hatchery management at Umoja Farm; his training sessions were so popular, he was asked to return in *June 2008 for another round of catfish hatchery management training. *Dr. Allen Davis and Josef Barbi (private, daily-rate paid under SAF), April 2008:

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 7: Expanded Sustainable Economic Opportunities for Rural Sector Growth
The Strategic Objectives, Intermediate Results and Project Intermediate Results are based upon the Project Monitoring Plan that was made as FISH began in 2005. The terminology has since changed and new SO7 intermediate results were being proposed as FISH was finishing. Indicator SO7c: Number of new on- and off-farm jobs created as a result of FISH funded activities: Target: 300 (cumulative over 3 years), Actual number: 324.

Intermediate Result 7.2: Increased Productivity Project Intermediate Result 1: Increased production of farmed fish

room and line for processing catfish or the gillnet company that began making a very different type of netting and cages for fish farming use. These factories did not increase their number of employees as a result of adding on a new enterprise, but they were able to keep those employees without having to resort to lay-offs. Other enterprises were small businesses that developed to serve the fish farmers, such as fish feed stockist (vendors), smallscale processors who sourced their fish from farmers, pond construction contractors, net makers, fish harvesting services and consulting services.
Indicator 1a: Metric tons of farmed fish produced annually: Target: 300 Actual: 54.9 tons reported sales of food-size fish (not fingerlings) in 2008.

Dr. Jeff Terhune - Fish Health Management

fish health management, went over health management plans for demonstration farmers, reviewed disease incidence reports and trained workers from the Department of Animal Health and Makerere Veterinary School in fish disease diagnostics.
Mr. James Miller, June-August 2007: filled

in for the CoP and provided technical backstopping and reporting assistance to project staff; he also helped organize steering committee meetings and increased awareness of project activities with other donors and made a great effort to summarize project outputs.
*Dr. Claude Boyd, October 2007: re-

inspected three possible fish feed-producing companies and reported on which was best situated to produce quality floating feed the quickest; provided a short list of recommended actions for all 3 sites (Ugachick, SoN, and Kahoora Enterprises); and worked at Kahoora Enterprises to alter the dry extruder and produce the first floating feed.
International Travel by FISH Uganda Staff: September 16-24, 2006:

Targets and actual numbers reflect the end of project status. A summary of indicators with each years data is provided at the end of this document.

Engr. Josef Barbi - Feed mill engineer

viewed limnological data on Lake Victoria at NaFIRRI and visited cage and pond sites; developed a set of recommendations for cage culture limits and site selection for Lake Victoria; presented one seminar at Makerere University, two at NaFIRRI in Jinja, and two at Anderita conference room in Entebbe; his trip report was distributed widely within Africa to environmental agencies and other planning agencies concerned with cage culture.
Dr. Shivaun Leonard, October-December 2007: set up and conducted trials at SoN

Two technical staffers (Isyagi and Asiimwe) and chief of party made a one-week visit to southern China to visit LVDH (low volume high density) cage culture, land-based fish farms, a feed mill, and local live fish markets. They were hosted by the United Soybean Board and American Soybean Association staff. October 2008: Veverica, Isyagi, and Asiimwe attended the 8th International Symposium for Tilapia in Aquaculture conference in Cairo, Egypt; Veverica presented a report on the FISH accomplishments and outlook (based upon the end-of-project presentation) and all three exchanged ideas on development projects with other participants.

Most of the jobs generated stem from pond construction and renovation, which is temporary employment at any one farm. The FISH service does not collect data from very many farms and often the farmers do not report short-term hires; so, this number is likely to be under-reported. The source of anticipated jobs was to be the large farms that employ many laborers to construct ponds. There is only one large farm to date and it was required to use prison labor to build the ponds as part of the lease agreement for prison lands. The agreement has resulted in better meals for prisoners and better living quarters for guards. While 300 prisoners are employed for the fish farm, these cannot be counted as labor by USAID rules.
Indicator SO7d: Number of new commercial on- and off-farm enterprises created as result of FISH-supported activities: Target 30 Actual number: 24

Fish Farm on pond grow-out of tilapia, nursery phase of tilapia (from fry to fingerling), and cage grow-out at different densi-

A list of all enterprises is included in annex. Some were enterprises added on to existingbusinesses, such as the poultry exising businesses, processing company adding a separate

The project was only able to record 68.5 tons of fish sales in total because only 58 farms reported and most of them did not have any sales. In fact, these sales stem from no more than 27 very small farms. The project did not have sufficient staff to collect data from farms other than demo farms and the government does not collect production data. However, using a feed conversion ratio of 2, the 512 tons of locally made feed sales would result in 256 tons of fish produced and the 36 tons of floating feed brought in by the project at FCR 1.7 would result in an additional 21 tons of fish production. This would make 277 tons of fish produced, which is still below target. The target was somewhat overzealous given that the intent of the cooperative agreement was to have 6 demonstration farms in production.

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Indicator 1b: Number of farms producing 5000 kg/ha/yr:

Target: 20 Actual: 27

Intermediate Result 7.2.2: Access by Producers to Improved Production Technologies and Practices Increased Project Intermediate Result 1.1: Improved cage and pond aquaculture technologies demonstrated.
Indicator 1.1a: Number of tilapia and clarias production systems demonstrated: Target 6 Actual: 7

4.

Clarias fingerling production using various levels of intensity, 6 farms: Sunfish Farm, Umoja Fish Farm, Mpigi Fish Farm, MuSO4 Fish Farm, Namuyenje farm, Interfish.

Indicator 1.1.c: Number of producers using

improved production technologies:

Target: 40 (revised from 20 listed in earlier version of PMP) Actual: 58

Farmers who follow the FISH projects production recommendations are obtaining 12,000 to 20,000 kg/ha/yr for catfish production and 5,000 to 9,000 kg/ha/yr for tilapia production. However, the profit margin is of greater importance as profit is more likely to result in continued performance.
Indicator 1c: Increase in total water surface area used for commercial fish farming: Target: 60 ha (changed from 20 in earlier PMP) Actual: 84.5: 38.7 ha of increased pond surface and an equivalent of 45.9 ha of natural waters used for cages.

5.

Production of tilapia in low volumehigh density cages: SoN Fish Farm, Namuyenje Fish Farm, Blessed Investments, Interfish (Garuga) and Uganda Fish Packers. The latter 2 have ceased these trials. Tilapia nursery: Purchase fry from a dealer and then grow out in fertilized ponds with small amounts of feed for re-sale as fingerlings or use in cages. Namuyenge Farm, Umoja Fish Farm, Mpigi Farm, MuSO4 farm, Holding tanks and transport facilities:

6.

The increase in total water surface area was mainly due to cages being placed in Lake Victoria. Every 5 cubic meters of cage volume is estimated to require 1 ha of water, based upon maximum allowable feed for best management practices of cage culture. The project was NOT encouraging the construction of new ponds because there is a lack of qualified advisors in pond construction and planning. However, there is a considerable increase in pond renovation activity. The increases have come from existing farms that were previously subsistence and who have gone commercial, plus some new construction, especially at SON farm near Jinja where the farm continues to slowly expand. The 58 reporting farms constitute a total of 65.3 ha of pond surface area. Of 58 reporting farms, only 8 have more than 1 hectare of water area. None have more than 5 ha water area. 30 hectares is the minimum water area normally thought of as large or commercial farms.

The following production systems have been demonstrated and provided results that are used to generate management recommendations: 1. Pond production of clarias using formulated feed: at Uganda Fish Packers, Samarieza Farm, and Naluvule Farm provided the initial data for the enterprise budgets and catfish manual. Other farms are doing various trials; in total 11 farms. 2. Pond production of tilapia using formulated feeds: In total 7 farms contributed data to develop the tilapia grow-out recommendations. Beginning in 2006 they were: Uganda Fish Packers, Namuyenje Fish Farm and Nansana Fish Farm. Nansana Farm dropped out before much data was collected. SoN fish farm, Edron Farm and Lubugumu farm began later in 2007 and have contributed the bulk of the tilapia production data. 3. Tilapia fry/fingerling production using happas in ponds: SoN fish Farm is producing all-male tilapia fry; Mpigi fish farm also produces mixed sex fry and does nursery growout of the monosex fry from SoN farm to produce a larger fingerling for sale; all in happas.

7.

8.

Tank culture of catfish was demonstrated using partial water exchange at Interfish, at Garuga. Density of 70 kg/m3 was attained and then fish stopped growing. All reporting hatcheries now use graders and fish holding systems prior to transport. Catfish production in cages was tested on 2 occasions at Uganda Fish Packers cage site. The site was stopped and no other catfish cage demonstrations are available so this is not considered in the total of new production systems in demonstration. However, some recommendations were generated from these trials.

The number is the total number of reporting farms who submitted the sales and inventory reports. All of these farmers have received training from the FISH Service. The types of improved technology that are being tracked are: Improved pond construction (almost all 58 farms) 20 use formulated feeds and associated record-keeping. Some, on their own accord, have elected to use other feeds based upon availability and economics. 27 have a production plan that includes a management strategy and business plan. All have some type of pond records (and associated pond inventory report). 7 use aeration in the early growth phases. All are hatcheries. Water quality measures are made and WQ records are kept at the hatcheries. Health management plans have been implemented at all of the 19 hatcheries. Other farmers who visited the demonstration farms have begun adopting these technologies as well. However, documenting the adoption requires additional manpower, which the project did not have. Therefore, only known adopters are recorded, as evidenced by their submission of sales and inventory reports.

Indicator 1.1b: Number of farms demon-

strating model systems:

Target: 20 Actual: 27

This is the number of farms that reported sales in 2008. 17 farms were used as data sources for the development of management recommendations. Three others have been dropped.

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Project Intermediate Result 1.2: Increased quality and quantity of inputs especially feed and fish seed Feeds
Indicator 1.2.a: Annual production of feed

Intermediate Result 7.4.2: Agricultural Training becomes more demand driven and privatesector oriented Project Intermediate Result 1.3: Strengthened aquaculture advisory services Targets:
Indicator 1.3a: Number of aquaculture practitioners trained in improved production technologies: Target: 100 this number represents new attendees. Actual: 1,200 different individuals for a total of 4,970 trainee-days.

Indicator 1.3b: Number of farmers receiving

advice at FISH office visits at Kajjansi or Jinja: Target: 250 Actual: 310 The target was initially high for the first year (150) and then decreased as the demonstrations took over this obligation. These were often new or prospective farmers and there will be one or two training days dedicated to this client group. The visits to the booth for the Jinja agriculture show in 2006 were counted as office visits during the first year if the farmers actually received advice and handouts from the FISH Service. Documented visits to the FISH office in Kajjansi by farmers averaged about 50 per year. These visits often took well over two hours and were often followed by tag-along training sessions described in the training section. Visits to the FISH office by demonstration farmers were not recorded as they were often frequent. In the third year, the information given by FISH staff to demonstration farmers was often less than the information given from the demonstration farmers to the FISH staff. Intermediate Result 7.3.3: Market Access Increased Project Intermediate Result 2: Improved marketing of farmed fish Targets
Indicator 2.a: was deleted because it was not useful. The original intention was to track fish farmers confidence in the various markets for their product. However, due to lack of farmed fish, it became clear that farmer confidence in markets was a minor constraint and that the project should put its efforts into helping farmers

produce something before the marketing effort took off. The fish farm sales reports track the buyers of the farm-raised fish. For example, in FY 2007, the majority of catfish were sold to middlemen. In FY 2008, catfish sales were split between processors and retail. Tilapia sales were split between retail, middlemen and processors. The trend is going towards direct retailing where profit margins are highest. Project Intermediate Result 2.1: Improved linkages with processors
Indicator 2.1a Increase in amount of farmed

meeting quality standards: Revision of PMP target: Annual production of quality feed Disaggregated by feed type:
Sinking pellets: Target: 200 tons: Actual: 260 tons Floating pellets: test pellets only (less than 1 ton) Actual: 700 kg. Powdered starter diets: no target was set. About 1.2 tons of starter diet was produced by SoN fish farm; mostly for its own use but small amounts were sold. Balton Uganda imported a total of 18 tons of larval diet, which has greatly improved access to quality feeds for the smaller and new catfish hatcheries.

Seed
Indicator 1.2.b: Number of hatcheries producing fingerlings meeting quality standards: Target: 20 Actual: 19 There are 12 tilapia producers and 14 catfish producers who reported sales. But some of the hatcheries produce both tilapia and catfish. Total is 19 different hatcheries. Indicator 1.2.c: Number of standard-meeting fingerlings produced: Target: 2 million over the project life. This number would include baitfish. Actual: 3.77million; 1 million was tilapia and 2.77million catfish sales were documented.

In 2006, the total number of different individuals attending training was 400. The total was 562 in 2007 and >1,200 in all three years combined. Every registration sheet is transcribed into the FISH services training database. Sorting is done by phone number and name and duplicates are deleted. The database can also be used to determine the number and type of trainings each person attended. Many people write their names in differently, so phone number is also used to verify if a person is the same individual. When in doubt, a name is counted as double. Initially, it was assumed that the aquaculture practitioners would be advisors or Fisheries Officers and the total number of individuals would be low. Although some of these attended trainings, most of the trainees were farmers and students who later became advisors. However, USAID has requested total trainee-days, disaggregated by gender in its OP and IEHA reporting formats so traineedays are listed in the indicator sheet.

fish used by commercial processors:

Target: 70 tons Actual: 30.4 tons

The data were obtained from sales reports. Total fish production remained low and erratic due to the small size of farms and, consequently, low production. Processors typically give lower price than direct retail would give; so, farmers were advised to sell whatever they could retail. This indicator was originally made to track any excess production beyond local consumption. A better indicator would be the number of processors that have sourced farm-raised fish. Four processors out of the 11 remaining in business have sourced fish from farms assisted by FISH. Note that the processors in Uganda rely almost exclusively on Nile perch for their export markets and Nile perch is not a good aquaculture candidate. Many of the processors do work with tilapia for local, regional and some regional markets. However, Uganda is not approved for export of farm-raised fish products to the EU.

The numbers reported are sales as opposed to production. Any production for on-farm use would not be included in the totals. However, if one farm sells a fry to another who in turn grows it on to a fingerling for sale, each product is included, as they both generate income.

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Annex 9, Table 1: Indicator Summary Sheet

Indicator
Indicator SO7c: Number of new on- and off-farm jobs created as a result of FISH funded activities

EOP target
300 laborer; female laborer; male

2006
66 3 43 6 20 6 1 5 2 4 1.912 0.506 1.406 4 9.91 9.91

2007
88 0 60 13 15 5 1 4

2008
170 9 121 18 22 13 1 12 2

EOP actual
324 12 224 37 57 24 3 21 4 20 54.882 33.344 40.009 28 84.525 38.675 45.85 7 27 58 260.368

% achieved
108

Another better indicator would be the number of processors that are involved in fish farming. Only two became involved in fish farming and a third began but ceased supposedly due to the lack of fish feed. Several more did approach FISH about starting farms. Some went through extensive planning and site selection. In addition, 3 small-scale processors started up catfish smoking and filleting for sales within Uganda. Project Intermediate Result 2.2 Improved techniques and equipment for live fish transport Knowing how to transport fish alive is very important to the development of the aquaculture sector for supply of seed as well as for sales. It is not necessary to sell food fish when they are alive and it can be a difficult task. However, processors who purchase fish from farms almost always require that the fish arrive alive at the plant. Farmed fish vending points can also attract a good size crowd just by having live fish. Another advantage is that middlemen have less negotiating power if the farmer is not risking being stuck with dead and ready to rot fish.
Indicator 2.2a: Increase in number of live

SAF grant for WAFICOS funded 8 fish transport tanks. Almost anything can be used as a fish transport tank; the main improvement is the use of some type of aeration. At the end of the project, SoN fish farm, Iganga Fish Farmers group, and WAFICOS fish farmers group had transport tanks and all the gear needed for transport of live fish. The WAFICOS fish transport consisted of 4 sets each comprised of oxygen cylinders, flow meter, and two one-meter long diffusers. Indicators, 2.1a, 2.2a and 2.2b are very minor in importance and should have been removed from the list. They are important issues for a commercial fish farming industry but do not need to be elevated to indicator status.

skilled: female skilled: male Indicator SO7d : Number of new commercial on- and off-farm enterprises created as result of FISH-supported activities. 30 owner female owner male off-farm on-farm Indicator 1a: Metric Tons of farmed fish produced annually 300 Tilapia Catfish Indicator 1b: Number of farms producing 5000 kg/ ha/yr Indicator 1c: Increase in total water surface area used for commercial fish farming (ha); for cages in lakes use 1 ha per 5 m3 of cage. Indicator 1.1a: Number of tilapia and clarias production systems demonstrated Indicator 1.1b: Number of farms demonstrating model systems. This is a cumulative indicator Indicator 1.1.c: Number of producers using improved production technologies Indicator 1.2.a: Annual production of fish feed meeting quality standards- note initial target of 0 was meant for extruded (floating) feed. 20 60 pond cage 6 20 30 200 sinking pellets floating powder (larval) Indicator 1.2.b: Number of hatcheries producing fingerlings meeting quality standards 20 Tilapia Catfish Indicator 1.2.c: Number of fingerlings produced that meet quality standards (this only reports sales; not what is used on-farm). Indicator 1.3a: Number of aquaculture practitioners trained in improved production technologies. Note: target was made for number but other reports requested total person-days. Indicator 1.3b: Number of farmers receiving advice at FISH office visits at Kajjansi or Jinja 1,540,000 Tilapia Catfish 150 person-days: F person-days: M 250 female male Indicator 2.1a Increase in amount of farmed fish used by commercial processors (tons) 70 Tilapia Catfish Indicator 2.2a: Increase in number of live fish outlets. Indicator 2.2b : Number of live fish transport tanks in use by farmers 5 9

80

5 11.756 7.461 4.295 7 28.945 3.695 25.25

11 54.882 25.377 34.308 28 45.67 25.07 20.6 7 27 58 260.368 258.493 0.7 1.175 19 12 14 1,721,172 747,616 973,556 2128 637 1491 54 3 14 17.76 0.966 16.794 3 13

18

140 141

5 13 15 55.9 55.9 0 0 6 3 3 219,393 38,000 181,393 1289 374 915 202 24 178 9.952 1 8.952 0 3

5 23 19 196.03 196.03 0 0 9 4 5 1,842,026 223,759 1,618,267 1553 529 1024 54 8 46 2.687 2.687 0 0 9

117 135 193 130

19 12 14 3,782,591 1,009,375 2,773,216 4970 1,540 3,430 310 35 238 30.399 4.653 25.746 3 13

95*

246

3313

** 124

fish outlets: Target: 5 Actual: 3 Of the 3 that started, only one is still practicing.
Indicator 2.2b: Number of live fish transport tanks in use by farmers: Target: 9 Actual: 13

43

60 144

The first two transport tanks were made by FISH and loaned out to farmers. SoN fish farm made 6 tanks and the

Note that some indicators were meant to be cumulative. When End of Project, (EOP) is same number as the 2008 actual, this means the target was cumulative. IF the EOP is a sum, the target was to be the sum of the 3 years targets.

* target was meant ot be cumulative ** target for OP is 900

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82